VILLAGERS in Cherhill will have the final say on whether a new village hall is built in the village by way of a referendum.

The new village hall steering group is looking to gain approval for its proposals through a Community Right to Build Order, believed to be the first of its kind in Wiltshire.

Part of the Localism Act introduced in 2011, the build order sees plans assessed by an independent assessor who will, if satisfied that the right regulations and considerations are addressed, recommend proposals put to a local referendum.

A spokesman for the Cherhill New Village Hall Steering Group said: “The attraction is massive for us because it means we have a community plan for the community provided by the community.

"The referendum is like voting in any election. If 51 per cent of those who vote are in favour then the plan goes ahead. It does not touch the planning department at all.

“The beauty of it is because the planning department have no decision; they are very helpful with their expertise about how things should be done and the how the process works.”

The three designs for the proposed new village hall, which would sit on the corner of Park Lane and the A4, have now been submitted and will be presented to the village at an open day on September 5 at the current village hall.

The steering group confirmed that members of Save Cherhill Field, a group opposing the plans, have been offered space at the open day to put their plans across.

Speaking on behalf of the Save Cherhill Field Group, Susan Lambert said: "As this is a new process, we, along with everyone else, have been learning more about the procedures for Community Right to Build.

“The consultation process is very clearly set out in the guidance for CRtB and we believe the process should start again from scratch as what has happened to date could not be called full community consultation. We would welcome this fresh start.

“We are more convinced than ever that directly opposite the Cherhill Down and Cherhill White Horse is not the right location for a new hall. The visual impact, large car park, traffic, noise, artificial lighting and widening of a rural lane which the Highways Agency have indicated as necessary, will we believe, impact on this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

Fears that a new village hall will lead to further development on the site have been eased by Wiltshire Council’s planning department who have stated that as a small village in the Wiltshire Core Strategy, only infill development, the filling of a small gap, is likely in the village.