TORRIDGE and West Devon PPC, Adam Symons, has expressed surprise that no village halls in Devon and Cornwall are to be funded to be renovated under the Big Lottery Fund.

It was announced that some 55 villages up and down the country will have their village halls rebuilt, using £19m of Lottery Funding. However, not a single one of those projects is to take place in Devon or Cornwall.

The Community Buildings Fund is dedicated to investing in buildings that give communities a chance to improve their quality of life and meet local needs, by offering a range of activities and services open to a broad range of people. Up to £50 million is being distributed across England over three years with grants of £50,000 to £500,000 available.

Adam Symons said: "I cannot believe that no village halls in Devon and Cornwall have been successful in their bidding. There are only two projects in the whole of the south-west, with most being in the midlands or north.

"I know of several village halls in Torridge and West Devon who are seeking funding to improve what are very old village halls. They need some encouragement that they might actually be successful in being funded. I hope that this is not a sign of things to come, where national money is directed to areas which are perhaps politically more sensitive."