A NEW sports hall at Malvern St James school has received the blessing of Malvern Civic Society.

After two applications were refused, the school received permission to build the hall earlier this year.

In his spring report Civic Society chairman John Handley said the school needed a large sports hall to continue to be competitive and attract pupils from across the world. Any idea that we were against the school's proposal in principle is totally without foundation," he said.

"We opposed the first application because we were concerned at the lack of local consultation and we felt that there was considerable room for improvement in the design, and this has been the correct reading of the situation."

Mr Handley said the society was pleased to see ideas being put forward for the future of the Edinburgh Dome after Malvern Hills District Counciil refused permission for it to be demolished.