A MAJOR millennium project in the New Forest has been given the go-ahead - just weeks after the scheme looked doomed.

The Millennium Commission has approved plans to convert a redundant tin church at Shepherds Road, Bartley, into a thriving community centre.

Two months ago a major cash crisis jeopardised plans to restore the 99-year-old building.

Residents struggling to raise enough money to qualify for vital grants were still £13,000 short of their target with just three weeks to go. Failure to find the extra cash in time would have meant the end of a six-year dream.

But never-say-die villagers managed to meet the deadline after securing a £13,000 loan from Action With Communities in Rural England (Acre).

And the project has now received the all-important seal of approval from the Millennium Commission.

Paul Gannaway, vice-chairman of the Bartley Village Hall Charitable Trust, said: "Everyone involved in the scheme has breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"A lot of hard work has gone into making the project a success - and now it's all systems go."

The church was saved from demolition after villagers bought the building for £10,000 and drew up proposals to convert it into a community centre.

Several organisations agreed to give grants totalling £70,000 - but only on condition that villagers raised the other 25 per cent of the money.

Residents had until the end of last month to raise their share of the cash.

Mr Gannaway said the £13,000 loan from Acre meant they now had all the money they needed to proceed with the scheme.

Bartley residents delighted at the news include Titanic survivor Millvina Dean.

She said: "The church is a local land-mark which is known affectionately as Bartley Cathedral. I would have hated to see it pulled down."

Work on the £90,000 conversion scheme is set to start next month

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.