VILLAGERS could finally get a new village hall - after Cuddington and Sandiway Parish Council agreed to apply for a £100,000 loan.

The money would be added to the £250,000 rural delivery grant the village hall committee is to receive from Vale Royal Borough Council.

The loan, which will be paid off over 20 years, will come out of the precept.

It would mean taxpayers in a D band property would pay an extra £3.12.

The new village hall design currently being worked on by the village hall committee will see the pavilion on Norley Road pulled down and a new U-shaped building put up in its place.

There will also be changing rooms for footballers from Cuddington Football Club, which has agreed to pay for any work which needs to be done on the inside of the changing rooms.

The changing rooms can also be used by anyone who uses the field.

Denis Kidd, chairman of the village hall committee, said: "We are absolutely delighted.

"The fact that the pavilion will be knocked down will save money for the parish council as it is quite expensive to maintain."

But Denis said there was still a long way to go as the design of the hall was far from finished.

He said: "There is still a lot left to do.

"Once we have finished we will put in an application and put the work out to tender.

"I am confident that if we get planning permission, the hall will be up before the end of next year."

Cuddington parish chairman Clr Pat Chrimes said: "We have pledged to support the village hall project by trying to secure further funding for a new village hall.

"Members have agreed for an initial approach to be made to Cheshire Association of Local Councils for a Public Works Loan Board.

"The financing of the village hall will be on the parish council's agenda at the next meeting on May 19."

There have previously been two applications for a village hall which have failed.

Now there is real hope.

Denis added: "At the parish assembly last week, there were around 50 residents and we took a vote on whether people wanted a hall. The majority said yes."