PARISH councillors in an Exmoor community are considering turning their village hall into an emergency shelter for residents during times of danger.

Councillors in Wootton Courtenay are working with the village hall committee to look at how the building could be turned into a ‘safe, warm space, in the event of an emergency’.

Parish clerk Roz Griffin said councillors felt it would be useful to have a space to feel safe within the village at times of weather extremes, such as storms or flooding, if the village was without electricity, or water, or telephone and mobile communications, and if roads were blocked by fallen trees.

Ms Griffin said: “Many homes are now completely dependent on electricity, and when the power is cut there is no lighting, heating, cooking facilities, and, for some, no water.

“We are considering obtaining a generator to install in the village hall so that people can use this in times of need, to make a hot drink or heat up food, and have the company of others.

“If you live alone and feel vulnerable, you may welcome the opportunity to have the support and company of others while being in a warm safe space.”

Ms Griffin said the council needed to know if an emergency facility would be used by residents of the parish.

She said: “I need to compile a list of villagers who live alone, feel vulnerable, or who live in a house powered only by electricity.

“We need this information to decide whether it warrants the considerable outlay of setting this up and purchasing a generator powerful enough to power the electrical appliances in the village hall.

Ms Griffin appealed for villagers to email her at [email protected] with their comments and if they thought people would use a village hall emergency shelter.