THE future site of a long-awaited new village hall remains undetermined after the desired piece of land failed to reach reserve price at auction. Bids for the garage site in Sutton under Whitestonecliffe reached £298,000 at an auction at the Golden Lion, Thirsk, on Wednesday night, but the property was withdrawn.

Sutton Village Institute committee had agreed at a meeting on Monday to bid for the site, with a view to building a replacement for the dilapidated hall next to the village school.

The decision was made after villagers heard that a second fully-comprehensive survey of residents had found that 67pc were in favour of a new hall and 60pc were willing to help towards it.

The old hall has fallen into a state of disrepair and the committee hoped to build a new hall on the bigger, more central, garage site. Moving the hall would give the cramped school the opportunity to buy the old hall site, but concerns have been raised about the impact of this on school funds.

Committee chairman Jill Wight told Monday's meeting: "If we buy the garage site we can get started on work immediately. It is bigger and in a better location, with more parking spaces and next to a pub for catering. Logistically, it makes a lot of sense."

Following a vote, a motion was approved stating that the committee would attempt to buy the garage site until it became practically unfeasible or economically undesirable. In that case, the old hall would be demolished and a new one built in its place.

Following the failure of the site to meet reserve price, the owner will be consulted and it may be put up for auction again or sold to a private buyer. The site was one of two adjoining lots for sale; the other was sold privately before the auction.

Estate agent Malcolm Parker, from Joplings in Thirsk, was handling the sale.

Speaking after the aborted auction, he said: "I am surprised it didn't sell, but bidding came in just below the guide price. It is a desired piece of land though, and I am confident it will be sold quickly.'