VILLAGERS have expressed their delight that Wembdon is to have a proper hall for the first time as part of a £2million project.

The Mercury reported last week how Sedgemoor District Council had given the scheme, which also includes two cricket pitches and three junior football pitches, the go-ahead.

Mike Solomon, chairman of Wembdon Parish Council, said it was “delighted the plans proposed by the Wembdon Village Hall and Playing Field Trust have now been approved”.

He added: “We recognise the immense amount of work done by the Trust and many others in our community to get the project to this stage and pledge our full support.”

Mr Solomon said Wembdon had long needed a proper village hall and described the proposal as a “truly exemplary development.”

District councillor Ann Bown said the scheme would benefit the whole village, particularly young people.

Nick Searle from Wembdon Junior Football Club said: “We are extremely excited that planning for this unique opportunity to provide first-class football pitches together with changing rooms attached to an iconic village hall has been granted”.

The club has over 200 junior players and is continuing to expand, meaning many sites around the district have been used in recent years.

Nick added: “This facility will allow all of our teams to play on one site bringing the club together to form a true community club.

“We intend to continue our close work with the Trust and in our own right will actively fundraise to contribute towards the total cost of this project.”

The football club should start using the new pitches in 2014, while the cricket club will probably move in a year later.

Dan Bingham, from the cricket club, said: “This is the result from hours of hard work, dedication and perseverance; the dream is now one step closer."

The first stage of the project will see a new access built from Homberg Way, starting in January, including a bridge over the Kidsbury rhyne.

Work on the facilities should start next spring and finish a year later.