LISS Parish Council has agreed to make an application to the Public Works Loan Board for a loan of up to £500,000 towards a new pavilion in the village.

The decision was made at an extraordinary parish council meeting on Monday evening.

The parish council now needs to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government before it can make the loan application.

Before reaching this stage the parish council had to seek approval from council tax payers in the village to apply for the loan. Approval was needed from more than 50 per cent of those who took part in the consultation.

Following a formal public consultation of residents, 68 per cent of respondents voted in favour of a small increase to the council tax precept to help deliver the community pavilion. This means that the project can go ahead.

The loan would be paid back over 25 years, which would mean that each band D household would have added to its council tax about £10.99 a year to service and repay the loan.

Should the parish council be successful in sourcing other grants, donations and Community Infrastructure Levy money towards the pavilion, these funds can be used to reduce the loan if it makes financial sense for the village to do so.

Liss Parish Council chairman Roger Hargreaves said: “I believe this is a real vote of confidence by the community of Liss, and I’m grateful to all of the residents who took the time to respond to the consultation.

“The current pavilion and the adjoining Scout hut are beyond economic repair and need to be replaced with a new, multi-functional building that will benefit the whole community as well as for use by the Scouts and the football club.

“Respondents to the consultation have backed the project by two to one, which shows significant public support for what we are trying to achieve.

“Liss Parish Council is now focused on delivering a facility that the village wants and we hope the new building will open early in 2019.”