PROVIDED a loan of £95,000 is forthcoming Chudleigh Town Council is pressing ahead with a new roof and other maintenance of the town hall.

At Tuesday's council meeting members unanimously agreed to apply through the Devon Association of Local Councils to the Communities of Local Government Committee to borrow the money.

As long as approval is given it would then go to the Public Works Loan Board.

Town clerk John Carlton said the whole process from submitting the application would take some four weeks.

'The Public Works Loan Board, once it receives it, looks to have it in the applicant's bank within a fortnight.

'It should be possible with a fair and following wind to have the money in place by mid-July,' said Mr Carlton.

Cllr Douglas Hellier-Laing said getting on with the work depended on a window of opportunity with the weather and provided no underlying work was found to cause a delay he thought it could be done within a month or two.

'Both roofs at the town hall need attention and the council does not have reserves,' he said.

The chairman, Cllr Nick Walter, said it was the council's responsibility to keep the town hall in a fit state for the public and was something it had to do.

'There were moans and groans when we put the precept up, but once people realised we were looking after the Woodway Room and the town hall roof, most were happy and I was very heartened by their response,' said Cllr Walter.

Last year the council increased its precept by 17.1 per cent to make sure it has sufficient contingency to help community groups and fund ongoing town hall repairs. This year it opted for a 7.6 per cent increase.