AN ENERGY-efficient village hall will be part-funded by a new county council scheme.

The Low Carbon Dorset programme has granted £10,000 to ensure that the replacement for the current wooden hall in Charlton Marshall, which was built in the 1930s and is becoming expensive to maintain, has a low carbon footprint.

The funding from the Dorset County Council scheme, drawn in turn from the European Regional Development Funding, will cover a hybrid air-source heat pump powered by solar photo-voltaic panels, and LED lighting throughout, alongside other measures.

Councillor for Winterbourne Hilary Cox said: “The development of a new village hall has been embraced by the whole village enthusiastically, and the award of the Low Carbon Dorset grant demonstrates the community’s awareness of their carbon footprint."

Work on the new hall, funded by other authorities and charities, is planned to start in June and is expected to be completed by March next year.

Community organisations with similar carbon reduction projects can find out more about the funding by attending a workshop at the Community Learning and Resource Centre in King Street, Wimborne, on May 10. Visit lowcarbondorset.org.uk/events-workshops