NEW laws challenge the future of a community centre.
Villagers fear Birdsedge Village Hall, built in the mid-1800s, will not be able to comply with new disabled access laws coming into force in June.
Residents now hope they will be able to win National Lottery funding to buy an entirely new community centre.
"It's not unrealistic," said resident Jacey Bedford. "But it will take a lot of time and effort."
The meeting, held in the village hall itself, gave people the chance to air their views on the building's future.
Options include upgrading the hall, rebuilding it on its present site or looking for a new site for a purpose-built facility.
"The village hall's own kitty is reasonably healthy at the moment. We knew the time was coming for major refurbishment," said Jacey. "But the money's nothing compared with what we need to build extra facilities."
She added: "It's a building which has grown organically and it's not easy with that organic structure to put in alterations that are required by law.
"It's really hard widening doors that are in 2ft thick stone."
She said the village hall played a vital role at the hub of the community and was in almost continual use.
