Tax on rubbish dumped in landfill sites helped pay for the hall

Residents of Wateringbury, near Maidstone, started fundraising in 1993 and have reached a total of �600,000.

The final �50,000 came from the Government's Landfill Tax Credit, which charges polluters for every tonne of rubbish they bury in the ground.

Wateringbury was one of eight finalists in a bidding competition for cash with 146 other applicants.

'Worthy contenders'

"This was a project that was well put together and well thought through," said John Marsh, chairman of Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd (Wren), which distributes the cash.

"We felt they were very worthy contenders and we were delighted they were rewarded with a �50,000 grant."

The new hall will be built on the site of the present building, which dates from 1921.

It will be twice the size and will have a better kitchen and toilets.

The fundraisers had hoped to have a new hall in time for the Millennium but a bid for National Lottery funding was turned down.

Village hall treasurer Dennis Stones said residents were asked what they wanted from a new hall in a survey two years ago.

"People said they wanted a hall in the middle of the village they could walk to so that's what we are doing," he said.