PLANNING chiefs have given the go-ahead to demolish Aberporth Village Hall which has served as the hub of the community since 1935.

But nothing will happen until the charitable trust that runs the “iconic” building secures the necessary grant funding for a replacement hall – which could cost up to £1m.

Over the past eight decades, generations of villagers have taken part in events at the hall, the front of which – complete with 1930s-style box office­ – was built as a cinema.

But despite its high usage, members of Aberporth Village Hall committee have now unveiled ambitious plans to replace it with a modern structure.

“We’ve lost our lime kilns and our library so in some ways it will be a shame to lose another of our iconic buildings,” chairman Dai Ogilvie told the Cambrian News.

“But in my view it is just no longer fit for purpose. It has single-­layer walls which cannot be rebuilt, there’s no chance of improving its insulation, you cannot get under it and its window frames are rotting.

“On top of that, the building is riddled with asbestos and the site will have to be tightly contained when it’s pulled down and all contaminated rubble removed.

“Demolition alone will cost £45,000. As to how much a new hall will cost, we could be talking anything between £800,000 and £1 million.”

“The hall has served the community extremely well but it would be very exciting if we are able to replace it with something built to 2016 standards,” added Mr Ogilvie.