FLAX Bourton's long awaited new village hall will be finally handed over this month. The ownership of the hall will be officially handed over to Flax Bourton Parish Council by developers Persimmon Homes at its meeting on June 12. The parish council will t

FLAX Bourton's long awaited new village hall will be finally handed over this month.The ownership of the hall will be officially handed over to Flax Bourton Parish Council by developers Persimmon Homes at its meeting on June 12.The parish council will then hand over the management of the hall to a Community Interest Committee (CIC) - the first of its kind to run a village hall in England.The CIC is made up of villagers and headed by resident Tony Miles.The hall, which cost £350,000, has remained closed since it opened four years ago.The building has been plagued with problems since it was built by Persimmon Homes as part of the Farleigh Green housing development on the former Farleigh Hospital site.It remained shut as a result of remedial work which needed to be carried out on the site.Flax Bourton Parish Council chairman Caz Hore-Ruthven said: "The parish council will be taking on the freehold of the hall and will hand over its management to the CIC."This, I believe, is the first case of a CIC running a village hall in England and it is a very exciting time for us all."The hall will be a fantastic asset to the village."The parish council has already earmarked £12,000 for the CIC to furnish and equip the hall.Mrs Hore-Ruthven added: "We have made money available to the CIC for its start up costs."However we hope the CIC will organise its own fund-raising events for the hall which I am sure they will do admirably."The parish council is also planning to take over management of the play area next to the hall as part of the agreement.