A NEW building could become reality for a village which is still using a former First World War army hut for its community events. Wisbech St Mary is celebrating after being told it has been successful in stage one of its grant application from the Big Lo

A NEW building could become reality for a village which is still using a former First World War army hut for its community events.

Wisbech St Mary is celebrating after being told it has been successful in stage one of its grant application from the Big Lottery Fund.

The village has been seeking funding for several years but has always been turned down.

The trustees are delighted with the news. The village has been invited to submit a stage two application and has been given a development grant to help develop the project to meet second stage requirements.

A spokesman for the trustees said: "I have been filling in the forms right from day one but we have never had any luck. The people on the board dishing the money out have never had to sit in a village hall trying to keep the rain out and the heat in."

Despite its dilapidated state, the current village hall still attracts a wide range of users and the Parish Council believes a new building would be used even more.

The village is seeking £500,000 towards the new building which would replace the former army hut, which was later converted into a turkey shed. A new building would be sited next to the sports/playing field and the refurbished changing rooms.

Stage two of the application has to be completed along with additional information with updated costings and detailed business plans, by September.

A final decision on the success of the application will then be made within six months.

Separate funding applications for play equipment are still pending and decisions are expected over the next few weeks. It is planned to site it next to the proposed new community centre.