VILLAGE and town halls offer "essential meeting places to sustain communities and bring residents closer together" according to a new document drawn up by culture and tourism bosses.

South Lakeland District Council is preparing for a Best Value review of its public halls service, and has compiled a policy statement about the role of village and town halls in communities.

The council owns, operates and manages Kendal Town Hall and Coronation Hall in Ulverston, and pays a chunk of the running costs of Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands.

To help refurbish village and community halls, the council offers grants, and help is available with funding bids to other bodies.

The council supports new and existing activities in halls, and helps with publicity.

As cultural and tourism services manager Jim Walker explained in the document, halls offer a variety of recreational activities for people of all ages; vibrant halls are key to the health of communities, and help attract new residents to live and work there; their condition can enhance civic pride; and they can help to prevent crime by offering constructive activities to occupy people of all ages.

The halls can also be venues for arts events, town council offices, play groups, senior citizens' clubs and lunches, and many other activities.

The leisure and amenities committee approved the policy statement.