People in Cowling, Keighley, want a new village hall, according to a survey.

Of 700 questionnaires on the future of Cowling's village hall sent out by a village hall project group, 234 were completed.

Questions invited comments on Cowling's leisure provision and whether the existing hall should be refurbished or a new one built on the Royd Mill site.

The majority - 62.5 per cent - voted for a new hall.

When the public were last invited to comment at a special meeting in February options other than refurbishing the existing 1885 hall were rejected.

A set of options had been drawn up by a steering group with the help of architect Andrew Forman.

The steering group has completed its part of the preparation work and dissolved to be replaced by a 'project group'.

With only 35.5 per cent of respondents wishing to retain the existing hall the project group now has to raise funds to build a new hall.

Bids for grant funding are to be compiled and plans will be discussed at a group meeting on Wednesday, May 3.

The group is considering applying for a Sports Council grant.

Cowling sports groups are invited to send a representative to the meeting to discuss how sports facilities can be part of the hall design.

Anyone wishing to get involved should contact Lesley Airey on 01535 637151.

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