CHURCH officials are putting their faith in the public to come up with £200,000 needed for a new hall at St Margaret's, Ilkley.

And they have already had a generous donation of land from a housing developer working on the former Ilkley College site.

The existing church hall at St Margaret's on Queen's Drive has outlived its usefulness after three decades.

Bryan Anson, new parish hall project manager, said: "The existing hall presents particularly acute access problems. There is no direct access from the road - the steep entrance steps are an enormous obstacle for wheelchairs and pushchairs and for all who have difficulty in climbing the stairs.

"Thanks to the generosity of Miller Homes, who are developing the adjoining site, this will not be a problem with the new hall.

"Miller Homes has kindly agreed to give the church enough land to create a vehicle access and a small disabled car park/turning area. This is much appreciated by the church."

Jerry Taylor, the technical manager for Miller Homes, said: "We are pleased to have made a contribution. We have demonstrated that we are responsible developers and we would like to extend that co-operation to the whole community."

The parcel of land donated by Miller Homes runs next to a housing site on land between the former college and Queen's Drive.

St Margaret's needs the new hall because of expanding church activity and because the church building is also used by many different organisations, particularly as a concert venue.

The Rev Richard Hoyal, who has been Vicar of St Margaret's for the last 12 years, said: "The size and adaptability of St Margaret's Church and its excellent acoustics make it a popular choice for concerts. It is also used for exhibitions, educational presentations, drama productions and young people's holiday activities.

"Such events require hall facilities. The hall independently provides a venue for a thriving playgroup and other church groups and meetings.

" It is also used regularly for training and further education courses, as well as for band practices demonstration evenings and a variety of social events."

But the present church hall is too small, has limited toilet facilities, and no storage space, as well as the access problems.

A new hall is planned which will include all of the things needed and as well as the land donation, the project team also has half the money needed for its construction.

When it is built the new hall will include a main area which can be partitioned, a separate space for smaller meetings, generous kitchen and toilets and bar for social events as well as a lift for people who have trouble climbing steps.

To complete the task the project team now need £200,000 which they are hoping to raise by public donation. Appeal forms are being sent out and further details can be obtained from Norman Philips, appeal treasurer, who can be contacted on (01943) 864818.

To help raise funds there will also be a programme of special events starting with a spring fair at the Winter Gardens, Ilkley, this Saturday at 10am.

A special Act of Dedication for the appeal will be made at the church the next day.

The first hurdle to be overcome for the project team is the granting of planning permission. Already Ilkley Parish Council planners have objected to two aspects of the new building, the random sized stonework and the coated metal roof.

But Mr Hoyal said that the roof and stonework exactly matched the roof and stonework of the church which was a Listed Building.

The objections are expected to be overcome before the proposal goes before the Keighley area planning panel.