ADDITIONAL funding is needed to help keep a vital village facility running, according to a ward councillor.

Users of the Sherfield Village Hall, in Reading Road, have been concerned over a fault in the floor.

Now, with some investigation work, which meant pulling up a number of floorboards, the cause of the issue was exposed to be dry rot.

When the hall committee enquired with a contractor how much the work would cost, the full extent of the problem was exposed, with extensive repairs needed to be carried out to the tune of some £12,000.

Bramley and Sherfield ward councillor Nick Robinson, said that there are funds put aside by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to support the work, but the extent of the damage has become a “money pit.”

Cllr Robinson said: “There is money available through section 106 funds from the council, but the concern is that the cost of the work will cut into the hall’s financial reserves.

“Thankfully the hall has been well run for a number of years that there are enough funds there, but this would make a huge dent in it, which would therefore mean other work and general maintenance of the hall would be impacted.”

According to Cllr Robinson, £3,000 is allocated from the borough council through S106 funds.

The cause of the damage was due to the underfloor ventilation in the hall’s extension becoming blocked which has led to the dry rot.

Cllr Robinson said the key thing is to make sure that the hall is back up and running as quickly as possible.

He added: “It is a very busy hall. People use it for Zumba classes, meetings, just last week we had a very well attended barn dance.”

Cllr Robinson said he is currently in negotiations with the borough council to secure more funding for the work.