PLANS for the multi-million pound regeneration of Hadleigh are being described as the town’s “last chance saloon”.

Developers will be given until January 19 to send in proposals to redevelop the town’s “gateway,”

including the former Crown Pub, fire station and Hadleigh Library.

The deadline is the latest development in a long-running pledge to redevelop the cluster of buildings in the middle of the A13 bordered by the High Street and London Road.

The news comes after the Echo revealed in August that a £60million masterplan for the 1.44 acre site, which had been worked on since 2011, was being scrapped as Essex County Council refused to support the plans.

Castle Point Council leader Colin Riley, who is also the chairman of the borough’s Regeneration Partnership, said: “We remain committed to delivering significant change in Hadleigh, to ensure it meets the aspirations of the community.

“It is great to see we are moving forward in revitalising this key town centre site and I await development proposals with interest.”

Deputy leader Bill Sharp, who represents the St James’ ward, which includes the area to be developed, agreed it would be nice to have firm plans for the site within a year.

He said: “This has been going on for so long I don’t want to give people false hope. It is quite fair to say this is the last chance saloon for the town centre.

“We do need to do something to the town centre. It has taken too much time.

“Quite frankly we can’t keep hanging on. We want something done so people don’t just drive through Hadleigh. Perhaps a Leigh kind of place will be formed in Hadleigh as Leigh Broadway is very nice.”

Traders in Hadleigh High Street and London Road had responded to consultations for the masterplan for the site.

Cara Sadler, owner of the Hair Studio in London Road, Hadleigh, said: “I think there should definitely be something family orientated, perhaps a nice place for families to go to.

“I think the redevelopment would attract more businesses here.

“Something needs to be done and I would definitely welcome it, 100 per cent.

“It has been going on for years and years. I have been here over five years and they have been saying they are going to do something with it.”