A WEST Devon village has become a showcase for green policies since work started on its parish hall to save energy and minimise CO2 emissions.

Bratton Clovelly's Parish Hall, which was built in the 1980s, has suffered from a leaking roof, minimal insulation and an LPG heating system that was no longer fit for purpose.

Residents have come together to raise more than £120,000 in grant funding from different organisations to get the hall fixed.

Work is now underway which will transform the hall during the course of the next couple of months.

The roof has already been replaced, with much improved insulation, and a wood pellet boiler, which powers a comprehensive system of radiators and blowers has been installed.

The contribution of this system will reduce the hall's carbon emissions to neutral and the wood pellets will be supplied by local firm, Forest Fuels from Shebbear.

To top off the system, the hall's large, south facing, roof will shortly be fitted with an array of photo-voltaic panels, which, as well as supplying all the building's electricity, will enable surplus green energy to be fed back into the National Grid.

Chairman of Bratton Clovelly hall committee, Graham England, said it had been far from easy to raise the necessary funds and get the project implemented.

He said: 'This goes to show that a small community is able to benefit, while at the same time contributing to reducing carbon emissions.

'It has brought our hall up to the best standards of the 21st century and the ability to sell surplus electricity generated to the National Grid will provide a useful income and ensure the sustainability of the parish hall for future generations'.

Funding for the project has come from West Devon Borough Council, Community Council for Devon, Renewable Energy 4 Devon and the Bio Energy Grants Scheme.

Bratton Clovelly's own Parish Council and the Greater Dartmoor Local Enterprise Action Fund (LEAF) have also provided funding and has backed this up with over £60,000 in loans and donations from parishioners.

The hall, besides providing facilities for many local groups from both Bratton Clovelly and the surrounding parishes, is also home to Bratton Clovelly Pre-school, the main feeder of children to Boasley Cross Primary School.

Bratton Clovelly's parish hall also has a PA system and hearing loop and a new portable tiered stage.

With its new facilities, the committee hopes to attract new hirers to the hall, particularly for day time conferences.

For more information about Bratton Clovelly Pre-school, phone Tamsin on 07855 612089.