A village hall is closer to being rebuilt after it was given a £62,000 council loan.

West Oxfordshire District Council has agreed to give the loan for the hall in Finstock, near Charlbury, on top of a £47,500 community facilities grant already pledged.

The project, led by Finstock Parish Council and village hall trustees, is expected to cost about £300,000.

It had already raised £175,000 before the loan from fundraising events and the parish council and is now awaiting the outcome of its final funding bids, including a £75,000 grant from landfill tax credit distributor Wren.

The new building would replace the current hall in Well Hill, built in 1929, which has shallow foundations, no insulation and is in poor condition.

The new hall, which was given planning permission in May, would include a large meeting room, smaller multi-purpose room, kitchen, toilet and storage facilities.

Trustees’ chairman Shaun Morley said volunteers have given more than 1,500 hours overall to help with fundraising events.

He added: “There has been overwhelming support from the village for this project.

“The community has really come together to meet the challenge of raising the funds.”

The parish council loan will be repaid over 15 years and work is set to start next summer.

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