PLANS for a new village hall in Cherhill are progressing with a shortlist of three architects agreeing to produce potential designs.

MAKE Architects, which has previously been involved with The Copper Box in Olympic Park in London, Batterham Matthews Design Ltd and Stonewood Design are all creating designs for the site on the corner of Park Lane and the A4.

After a period of assessment and clarification by the Cherhill village hall steering group, the plans will be presented to residents at an open day on September 5.

John Cavanagh, of the village hall steering group, said: “It’s very exciting. Hopefully by the fifth we will have three outline designs which we can present to the village and ask them what they think.

“The expectation that everyone who is interested can come along and we will have a variety of ways for them to give us feedback so we can canvass opinion.

The brief given to the three architecture firms has been based on questionnaires previously completed by villagers, in particular, that the new build is in keeping with its setting amongst the Cherhill Downs.

Mr Cavanagh said he hoped for clever and innovative ideas from the architects which used the landscape to minimise the building’s footprint on the land.

Mr Cavanagh added: “We are looking for a village hall that’s in keeping with the setting. We live in the village and we don’t want an eye sore there, we are open minded and want to look at ideas.

The steering group has also visited many of the groups who regularly use the hall to canvas their opinion on what was needed from a new village hall.

However, the Save Cherhill Field group, remain convinced that building a new hall would negatively impact on the area.

Speaking on behalf of the group Susan Lambert said: “Park Lane field is in a particularly special part of Cherhill village being right opposite the Cherhill Down, a nationally recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the iconic Cherhill White Horse."

"We believe this green field site is an inappropriate place for a new village hall and large car park, and the visual impact, noise, traffic, artificial lighting and disruption will be detrimental to this unique landscape.

"The issue of a new village hall on the field at Park Lane is dividing the village, and it's sad to see the negative impact it is having on our community. A project like this should have the backing of all the village, and not pull it apart.

An online petition set up by the Save Cherhill Field group has surpassed 600 signatories.