A COMMUNITY centre could be forced to shut if councillors approve plans to raise the rent from £50 a year to £4,000 by 2011.

The future of Rayleigh Grange Community Centre, in Little Wheat-leys Chase, Rayleigh, will be discussed by Rochford District Council's executive board, on Wednesday, October 17.

The lease of the centre, to the Rayleigh Grange Community Association, is up for renewal this year, but in April the council agreed to extend it until July, 2008, so a full study could be done.

Now, external services director Graham Wool-house is suggesting the rent at the centre should be increased in stages to bring it into line with similar council facilities, by July, 2011.

He said: "The trustees have indicated any significant increase in rent, without a compensating grant, would make continued community use no longer viable."

However, Joan Mock-ford, Tory councillor for Sweyne Park Ward, which includes the community centre, pledged to fight the move.

Mrs Mockford said: "I shall go to the Conserv-ative group meeting on Monday, when I shall be fighting this increase.

"The community association does all the repairs and maintenance and it has become a good centre for the area.

Community association president John Dawson said: "We would have to look at all the implications as a committee before we could make decisions or look at the future of the centre.

"There have been discussions going on, but this is certainly the first I have heard of this proposal.

"It is a well-used facility which is an asset to the area, but it would be unfair to make any comment about the future until we have the definite proposals."