CAMPAIGNERS’ calls to refurbish Rayleigh’s Mill Hall rather than demolish it have been rebuffed as it was claimed it would cost £3.5million.

Following months of controversy, Rochford Council has revealed the scale of the cost of revamping the much-loved community facility.

Under current plans, the arts and events centre would be demolished to make way for flats and a smaller hall – costing £1.5million.

Angela Hutchings, acting managing director at the council, has revealed refurbishing the Mill Hall building would cost between £2.5million and £3.5million.

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Sam Reed, 42, a member of the Save the Mill Hall campaign group, said: “Where has this figure come from?

“It’s never been mentioned before. It’s the first anyone has heard of it.

“What’s the real deal here? Nobody knows what’s going on. The council is only looking at its monetary worth, not its social value. The Mill Hall means a lot to me.”

The Rochford Conservatives announced they were pausing the plans earlier this month.

It came as the results of a public consultation into the future of the Mill Hall were made “private and confidential” by Rochford Council.

The Mill Hall sits off Rayleigh High Street, and next to the grade II listed Rayleigh Windmill.

James Newport, Lib Dem councillor for Downhall and Rawreth ward, said: “They’ve just pulled this figure out of the air.

“What evidence have they used to come up with the number? The council is misleading the public. How can you make a public consultation private? Residents took part in it, and now they can’t see the results.”

A spokesman from the Rochford Districts Residents, which consists of eight councillors, added: “The public are unaware if the Conservatives are actually listening to the residents. They are denying the very people that they consulted with, the results that they participated towards.”

Angela Hutchings, said: "The council estimates that its current proposed plans for all six sites would require a net contribution of approximately £1.5m.

"Refurbishing the existing Mill Hall would cost between £2.5m and £3.5m alone and as a council we must make decisions based on wider considerations, including value for money across the district as a whole.

"The programme will reduce the ongoing running costs of the site, which will contribute to the financial sustainability of the Council and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

"By building a new community centre at the Mill site we can incorporate environmental improvements while also improving the flexibility of the space on offer and take a more holistic approach to the heritage of the immediate area.

"Unfortunately the existing building is 50 years old and so will not meet the Council’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.

"The proposed new community centre would be BREEAM Excellent,  placing it in the top 10 per cent of new buildings in the UK for environmental sustainability and would include features such as solar panels, a green roof and walls and the ability to recycle heat and water.

"It will also allow more groups to access and use the facilities which would widen the options available to the whole community throughout Rayleigh and beyond.

"We are grateful to all those who have taken part in the consultation and welcome their views.

"Everyone’s opinion matters and so all responses are being compiled into a report that will go forward to elected councillors.

"Once councillors have had the opportunity to review this the council will update the public with the results.

"We are a council that is committed to transparency and will of course provide further updates in due course.”