Work will definitely start in June on the new parish hall for Ashwater following receipt of the final go-ahead from the Big Lottery. After more than ten years of campaigning, there are wide smiles in Ashwater.

Before the builders arrive on site in Ashwater, there will be a celebratory car boot sale on Bank Holiday Monday, May 25 on the newly created car park.

The new parish hall is anticipated to be finished by the end of the year and will replace the old, cold hall, which is decrepit and unsuitable for people with disabilities. The villagers recently voted to put the old hall on the market and it will be sold in due course with planning permission for a single dwelling.

The new hall owes much to the constant, stalwart support of the late Cllr Des Shadrick, who allocated money from his local projects fund and it was with great sadness that people of Ashwater heard of his ­passing.

The new hall facilities will be accessible for all and Malcolm Timney, secretary of the Ashwater New Hall Committee said: "We are pleased that we are now able to start work on a project that we have been working on for 10 years but the pleasure is shadowed by the sad news that Cllr Shadrick will not be able to see the result of our — and his — labours."

Lawrence Langston, Chairman of the New Hall Committee added: "The new Parish Hall has been designed to be as green as possible, with a ground sourced heat pump. The hall will host events throughout the year including meetings, skittles matches, fetes and sales, meetings, sports and recreation, weddings and wakes, (ideally placed as it is opposite the beautiful parish church), day conferences, education and training, playgroup and many, many more."