A new �450,000 village hall for Scratby is set to become a 21st century community hub offering a range of rooms and new opportunities for user groups.Plans will go on show at the village centre in Ormesby St Margaret on Thursday to enable local people - who have part-paid for it through their precept - to see for themselves the layout and look of the new facility.

A new �450,000 village hall for Scratby is set to become a 21st century community hub offering a range of rooms and new opportunities for user groups.

Plans will go on show at the village centre in Ormesby St Margaret on Thursday to enable local people - who have part-paid for it through their precept - to see for themselves the layout and look of the new facility.

Parish council chairman Geoff Freeman said the idea was first mooted 50 years ago but that efforts to make it happen had gathered momentum in the last ten.

He said he was certain the new hall would make a valuable contribution to local life, with its large hall, function room, fully equipped kitchen, meeting room and car parking.

“We have now got to the stage where we have done our consultation, we have done the designs, the architects have come back to us and we have gone over it again until we feel we have come up with the ideal solution.

“Now we want to show it to the public, apply for planning permission and get started as soon as possible. It will be a great asset to the village. We have not gone to build Chrystal Palace we just want it to be functional. The concept is simply a really nice village hall with different sized areas and a nicely decorated and furnished function room for private parties from golden weddings to wakes. It is a real community project.”

Although neighbouring Ormesby had several well-supported halls, Scatby - which comes under the same parish umbrella - had nothing, not even a place for its folk to vote.

Mr Freeman said he hope the police and health authority would use the facility for their work within the community.

The hall has been funded by grants, donations, the Governments Public Works Loan Board and through the parish precept - giving all 5000 residents across Ormesby, Scratby and California a sense of ownership. The plot - a field close to the main road through to Hemsby - is already in parish council ownership.

The meeting is at the village centre, Ormesby St Margaret, on Thursday at 7.30pm when there will be a power point demonstration.