A LONG-awaited £200,000 renovation project to provide villagers near Winchester with an up-to-date parish hall for the millennium has been completed.

The scheme had been in the pipeline for more than a decade and work finally got under way on refurbishing the hall at Shawford in February this year.

Local fundraising initiatives were generously supported by hundreds of residents, enabling Compton and Shawford Parish Council to provide the majority of the money required for the work.

But grants were also awarded by the Millennium Commission, the Countryside Agency, Hampshire County Council, Winchester City Council and the Sir John Scott Memorial Fund.

The original hall was developed back in the 1890s and great care has been taken to retain the charm of the building, while at the same time making it an access-friendly centre.

Hundreds of villagers turned out for a special ceremony to mark the official opening of the hall by Hampshire's recently retired Chief Constable, John Hoddinott.

"It has taken 12 years to get this essential renovation scheme off the ground, but it is exciting to see it completed," said project leader Mike Matthews.

"As well as providing three function rooms, we have perhaps bucked the rural closures trend by adding on a small sub-post office. We have yet to lay a decorative pavement maze on the new terrace, which should give the parish hall a really unique identity at the start of the next millennium. Regular users weathered the upheaval with good grace and are now expressing their appreciation of the new facilities."

Compton and Shawford Community Association took over the management of the hall under a 30-year lease from the parish council in August.

The management committee is now intent on building up new custom over the next few months and hopes the hall will become a popular venue for wedding receptions and anniversary celebrations.

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