A DILAPIDATED community hall at the centre of a £15,000 council review could be demolished, campaigners fear.

Castle Point Council’s cabinet has agreed to plough money from its reserves into assessing the future of the Paddocks, in Long Road, Canvey.

It has sparked fears the popular community asset could be lost for good if the authority rules nothing can be done to save the rundown building.

John Anderson, Canvey Independent Party councillor for the island’s Central ward, has vowed to lead a battle against demolition if the hall closes.

He said: “If the Paddocks was demolished, I would lead a revolution against bulldozers coming in.

“There has been a lot of rumours, over a period of time people have seen the run down of the hall, it’s in a disgraceful state.

“My question is that many organisations use this hall, will there be a public consultation about new plans?

“The University of the Third Age group has more than 300 members. The car park at the Paddocks is full, we need the same footprint to fit everybody in.”

Norman Smith, Tory councillor responsible for regeneration and business liaison, has not ruled out demolition - but insists the community hall will be rebuilt.

He spoke out at a Castle Point Council cabinet meeting to “quash the rumours.”

He believes a full refurbishment of the Paddocks would cost around £500,000.

Mr Smith said: “There’s a sum of money we are asking for from reserves to complete a feasibility study.

“I would like to quash any rumours regarding the site. We are looking at whether or not we can do something at the site to enable the council to rebuild the hall, not demolish the hall, rebuild the hall.

“The Paddocks is costing a lot of money to repair, and we expect it to be somewhere in the region of £500,000. Canvey and Castle Point deserve a new hall to be built.”

Peter May, Canvey Independent Party councillor for the island’s Central ward, believes that a revamp has the potential to make the site more popular. He has called for any future rebuilt hall to accommodate the existing community groups who use the Paddocks.

Mr May, who is chairman of Canvey Age UK, which uses the hall, said: “Should the hall get rebuilt, so many more people will want to use it.”