CAMPAIGNERS in Overton were celebrating this week after residents voted against plans to build a new hall on London Road.

Some 620 villagers voted not to support the development of a new village hall on the site, with 352 voting in favour of the proposals.

Thirty per cent of villagers took part in the referendum, called after residents voiced their concerns over the plans to build the £1 million hall and the possible impact it would have on existing facilities.

Borough and parish councillor Ian Tilbury, leading the campaign against the hall, said the result 'vindicated' his request for a poll.

"It has been clear to me for some time that there was widespread opposition to the building of the new hall on this site, for a variety of reasons," he said.

"Much of the opposition is due to the design and location, but many saw no need to demolish St Mary's, a hall to which many have great emotional attachment and which is ideally located in the centre of the village. It requires work to bring it up to modern standards, but that is achievable and there are plenty of volunteers willing to help."

Mr Tilbury agreed Overton needs a larger hall to replace St Luke's but whether a rebuild on the existing site or other sites in the village was possible is something 'the whole village needs to address.

"I have suggested in a report to the parish council what I believe the options are," he added.

"It is now up to those who support these or any other possible options to come forward to the parish council with viable plans.

"I suggest St Mary's becomes the arts centre and any new hall is primarily a sports facility. That is, after all, what the village asked for in the first place."

Lucy Sloane Williams, of the St Luke's Hall management committee, said the trustees believe 'certain misleading statements' had a significant impact on the result and will be meeting shortly to 'discuss the steps required to safeguard the interest of St Luke's Hall charity'.

She added surveys carried out at Testbourne Community School and with pupils in the top two classes at Overton Primary School showed the majority were in favour of the new hall - at Overton the vote was 58 for and 38 against and at Testbourne 60 were in favour and 57 against.