A village community is being asked to put their hands in their pockets to help fund a new car park surface.

Oake Village Hall car park has seen increased traffic since the transfer of the Oake Community Shop and Post Office in August 2020. A new permanent surface is now needed to prevent more structural damage and claims for damage to vehicles that use it.

An online crowdfunder is seeking to raise £10,000 of the £50,000 needed to complete the car park.

A spokesperson for the car park working group said: “During extended periods of dry weather, dust is created and is a problem for our immediate neighbours.

“It can also become unpleasantly muddy in some areas, resulting in dirt trailed into the Oake Community Shop and Post Office and Hall, and unhappy users with soiled shoes.

“When it rains, a considerable volume of water runs down the drive, creating ruts/gulley's in the car park, settling, and creating a very muddy area at the lower boundary.”

The management committees of Oake Village Hall, Oake Community Shop and Post Office along with the Parish Council have been working together to provide a long-term solution to the problem.

A spokesperson for Oake Parish Council said: “The £40,000 currently raised to resurface Oake Village Hall Car Park has come from various sources.

“Individual donations from Oake parishioners, fundraising from Oake Village Hall, fundraising from Oake Post Office and Community Shop, individual fundraisers and the local Sunshine Fund (solar farm).

“This still leaves a shortfall of £10,000. As a result a Justgiving fundraising appeal has been initiated. It is hoped that the shortfall will be achieved to enable the work to start in the autumn.”

Donations can be made at Just Giving by searching for ‘Oake Village Hall car park’