A POPULAR community hall has expanded and redecorated to accommodate more members.

The Wessex Christian Fellowship Church in Wessex Close, Brookvale, was granted £65,000 from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Local Infrastructure Fund (LIF) to aid the extension.

An extra room, which has disabled access with a ramp and automated door, is a main feature of the new look church and provides storage space for various groups who regularly use the premises.

The community room, attached to the church, is well used by groups such as mothers and toddlers, children, young people, the elderly, and also houses a food bank.

Pastor Sanjay Sanil said: “The grant was very much appreciated as it has allowed the church to open its doors to more people in our community. We have many specialist groups, including a Hungarian group every Saturday, and we now have the room to accommodate more people.”

The funding was secured thanks to the help of Brookvale and King’s Furlong ward councillors, Cllr Jack Cousens and Cllr Michael Westbrook, who worked with borough council officers to apply to the LIF.

Cllr Cousens told The Gazette: “Mike and I are extremely pleased to have sponsored the church to enable them to get this funding.

“They provide a multitude of services to the community of Brookvale and King’s Furlong and it is a pleasure to see them able to increase their capacity to accommodate more people, it is fantastic.”

Cabinet member for finance, service delivery and improvement at the borough council, Councillor Robert Tate, said: “The extension to the community hall at the Wessex Christian Fellowship in Brookvale will attract more local people to meet there for a variety of interests.

“I am delighted to see funding from the council’s Local Infrastructure Fund benefiting projects such as this which encourage all members of the community to interact.”