THE first meeting of a multi-agency group set up to redevelop an historic York hall was today hailed as "a decisive step forward".

The Haxby Memorial Hall Redevelopment Group (HMHRG) has spent two years working to set up a partnership group to co-ordinate the £1 million project.

City of York Council is officially signed up and Haxby Town Council is on board, subject to discussions at its next meeting, while Wigginton Parish Council currently has "observer status". Now the group has met for the first time to discuss possible fundraising methods, and a long-term plan for the hall.

Richard Kimberley, hall trustee and HMHRG chairman, said: "The meeting went well. The new hall would be a centre for the whole community and so we wanted as many representatives of that community and as many different views and ideas available as possible."

Mr Kimberley admitted the original completion date for the project, Christmas 2005, may not now be met.

But he said: "We have spoken about doing it in stages and some stages of it would be finished by late 2005. Hopefully each completed stage will raise interest and awareness among the wider community."

Ernie Young, chairman of the trustees, said: "The first meeting went well and things are very positive. It is early days for the joint group, but we set the scene.

"We want to be as inclusive as possible, get wider access to fundraising and take the long-term view.

"We want this facility to be available for many years to come, with funds in place for any future refurbishments.

"Those funds were not previously in place which is why we are in the situation we are in now."

For more information on the redevelopment, or to make a donation, visit

www.haxbymemorialhall.org

Updated: 10:16 Saturday, December 28, 2002