AN exciting project that could breath new life into Bidford has been unveiled.

Stratford MP John Maples and William McCarthy, chairman of Stratford District Council, joined other civic leaders for a presentation by The Bidford Sports and Community Initiative (BSCI) to hear a report on plans for a sports and community facility to replace Crawford Hall.

The new building would house a sports hall, a community hall, parish rooms and a two-storey central block with changing rooms, lockers and a bar, fronted by a reception area.

Five sites in Bidford have been identified as possible locations. They are Canada House, Dugdale Avenue, the fire station, the site of the new school on Westholme Road and Crawford Hall itself.

Following an assessment of each site, redeveloping the Crawford Hall site has emerged as an early favourite.

But at least £1,000,000 needs to be raised to make the project a reality.

Stratford District Council has promised £50,000 as a precept and there could be a further £45,000 to follow as planning gain, providing work begins in the next three and a half years.

The group will look to the National Lottery to help with the cost of the project.

Eric Wyatt, chairman of the BSCI and a Bidford resident, said that more than 40 years ago the village had two halls and a population of around 1,500 and in the near future, that figure would be close to 6,000.

"Our facilities have gone down and our population has gone up," he added.

"The hall is adequate for certain things but due to the population we have and to put on a 'professional show' we would have to spend huge amounts of money."

He said that if people want to use leisure facilities they have to travel to Stratford and Alcester.

But the scheme has not been welcomed by all.

Parish councillor Rosemary Owen voiced concern that the project may not be financially viable. She said the Greig Hall in Alcester and Stratford Leisure Centre were struggling to survive and were relying on funding from the district council.

However, the plan was backed by the chairman of Bidford Tennis Club, Simon Price, who said that such a facility would be welcomed by the club, which was based at the hall.