A SCALED-DOWN blueprint has been submitted for a village hall in North Cowton - four years after councillors gave more ambitious proposals the go-ahead.

In 1997, the community was celebrating after winning permission to put up a two-storey building, which was to have included a sports hall.

A push began to raise £45,000 towards a target of £200,000, in the hope grants could be secured to bridge the gap.

But once the original excitement died down, the village has gradually adapted the proposals to better suit the community's needs.

As a result, architects have been asked to go back to the drawing board, and fresh proposals have been sent to Richmondshire District Council, which debates the scheme tomorrow night.

The sports hall is no longer part of the package.

Instead, the village hall committee is suggesting a single-story building, with a meeting room, main hall, stage, space for a pre-school unit and lavatories.

"We just feel this will better suit a village this size," said village hall committee chairman, David Hughes, yesterday.

"The idea would be to build in phases, giving us the opportunity to raise the money we need in bite-sized chunks - we would aim to have the main hall built first," he said.

It is understood the community already has £13,000 in the bank, while the quest for grants will begin as soon as councillors have decided if they see the revised project as acceptable.

A report, tabled when the district council's planning committee meets tomorrow, appears to be good news.

The formal period of public consultation had not been completed when it was written, but planning chiefs were not raising any objections.

Officer Brian Hodges says: "This revised scheme will have less impact than the previously approved scheme, both in terms of its effect on neighbouring properties and in its appearance.

"Subject to any views that may be expressed by consultees, it is likely that I will be recommending that delegated authority be given to grant conditional planning permission when fully satisfied on the details of the scheme."