A RIBBLE Valley village hall is to undergo a £50,000 refurbishment project later this year to help secure its future.

Mellor Village Hall, which was built in the 1980s, will have a new roof and insulation installed alongside improved lighting and PV panels.

The hall’s committee, led by chairman Mick Venables, applied for funding from the Lancashire Environment Fund and recently received confirmation of a £30,000 grant towards the project.

It is hoped the remaining £20,000 will be raised through fund raising events during the year and further grants which are being applied for.

The committee hopes the work, which will also include the installation of cavity wall insulation, will be able to start in in the summer.

The hall is used by groups including sports teams, singing groups and the Girl Guides.

Mick, 55, who has been chairman of the village hall for 20 years, said: “This project is very much needed and it will make the hall so much nice for people to visit.

“It will make the hall a lot warmer to be in which we hope will encourage more groups to use it.

“The work has been a long time in the coming and I hope it will be finished in good time.

“When everything is finished I hope it will increase our revenues so we can continue to run the hall effectively.

“The project will help secure the future of the hall because without it the number of groups using it may decline.”

As part of a year long programme of fund raising events, the hall will host a performance from The Swing Commanders in April.

The popular group will appear at the hall on Saturday, April 5, from 7.30pm.

For more information about the project or any fund raising events, call 07711 088500.