I feel that I have to straighten out what could be misleading statements made by Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC) Adam Symons — 'Cornwall and Devon village halls snubbed', the 'Post', April 9.

Ashwater Parish Hall Committee are one of the few village halls in Devon, and indeed the South West, to benefit from the Community Buildings Fund.

The particular 'pot' of £50m, referred to by Mr Symons, was launched early in 2006. The initial round, called the Stage One Applications, prompted bids to the tune of £600m — yes six hundred million pounds — nationally.

Having completed an extremely rigorous application process, which took the best part of two years in May 2008, we were told that we were to receive a substantial sum of money towards the construction of a new hall for Ashwater. There was, however, a shortfall which we have now bridged.

What is not made clear in Mr Symons' statement is that applications for this particular round of funding closed, from memory, late in 2006. As far as I am aware, the next round of funding for village halls will be after the London Olympics and it would be wrong to give those village hall committees the impression that there was another £50m which they have missed out on.

Secretary,

Ashwater Parish Hall Committee

Ashwater.