A Crucial £10,000 grant to the Gastard Village Hall restoration appeal was the highlight of Corsham Town Council’s first meeting on the road on Monday.

The town council met at the hall for a one-off Gastard-focused public meeting, where vice-chairman Peter Anstey presented a cheque to hall treasurer Debbie Anstis.

Mrs Anstis said: “This is such a marvellous donation to the village hall, along with £5,000 from the Area Board, people’s wonderful donations and the fundraising we have done.

“It enables us to have the first stage of the build, so we can remove the asbestos, and insulate the sides of the building, which means it will be safe, secure and sound for the next 78 years.”

At the meeting, the council also reaffirmed its opposition to the proposed Octavian wine storage facility at Eastlays Mine in the village, which will be put to the northern area planning board next Wednesday.

The town council will be holding two more of this year’s meetings away from the Town Hall, at Neston and Rudloe.