STROUD Village Hall trustees have reluctantly taken the decision to lock the doors and board up the windows to the familiar old 'Tin Hut' in the heart of the village. But they are keeping their fingers crossed over a Big Lottery application, to be announced on December 7. If they are successful in getting through to the next round, trustees will have to come up with a business plan and are keen to hear from any organisation which would be interested in hiring the hall. Trustee Debra Baker said the decision had been taken due to the health and safety concerns of the tin hut. "The dilapidated state had become a health and safety concern with rental opportunities diminishing severely over the past 12 months," she said. "During this time, vandals forced their way in and punched holes in walls, and broke windows and kitchen fixtures. This prompted a surveyor's report which proposed substantial repairs were now needed to the floor, roof, walls, kitchen and services to safeguard users." Stroud Village Hall has an extraordinary history. Built in 1923 as a First World War Italian prisoners messing hut, it has provided a base for the most diverse list of users in the last 84 years – from band practice to polling station. It is hoped to replace the hall in order to provide a hub to sustain village life. "More than £58,000 in proposed grants from Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire District Council, Stroud Parish Council and village fundraising demonstrates both commitment and ability to the Big Lottery Community Buildings Programme where an application for £350,000 was submitted in April 2007," said Mrs Baker. She added that the working party received a letter in August saying that 1,600 applications had been received, but Stroud Village Hall was one of the 545 successfully through this initial assessment stage. Planning permission was first granted nearly 10 years ago, in November 1997, for a new community building on land gifted to the village close to Langrish Primary School in Ramsdean Road, Stroud. It was proposed to build a main hall, meeting room, kitchen, disabled access and toilets, children's play area, barbecue and picnic area, and car park which, with the use of the available marquee, provides 190 square metres of event space. Potential hirers are being urged to make contact with the trustees by calling Debra Baker on 01730 231603.