TORY MP Mark Francois has spoken out over the redevelopment of Rayleigh’s Mill Hall, insisting homes plans must be ditched to protect the town’s iconic windmill.

Plans to demolish the hall, off Bellingham Lane, have been “paused” by Rochford District Council following a backlash from furious residents.

The council had planned to demolish the building and replace it with a smaller hall and flats.

Mr Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, has now intervened, saying flats could negatively impact on the conservation area centred on the iconic windmill.

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Mr Francois said: “Rochford Council is now formally reviewing the way forward on the Mill Hall and have undertaken to announce their solution by the autumn.

“However, the original proposals are obviously pretty unpopular and seem increasingly impractical anyway, given that the nearby Rayleigh Windmill is listed and the wider site is a conservation area, which would likely prohibit building new flats there anyway.”

He spoke as boxer Frank Bruno offered his mental health and boxing services to the council, in a bid to end the debate around the future of the Mill Hall, just off Rayleigh High Street.

A Save the Mill Hall campaign was set up in opposition to the scheme.

Mr Francois’ options for the future of the hall include refurbishment over demolition, demolishing the Mill Hall and replacing it with a “21st century alternative” without the inclusion of flats, or completely abandoning the project altogether.

However, refurbishment requires “genuine” costs to be disclosed, alongside commitment from community groups they would still use the centre.

Council chiefs claimed last month refurbishment would cost £3.5million.

Mr Francois added: “While the Mill Hall has been used to great effect in recent months as a vaccine hub, for which we are all very grateful, including to the staff and volunteers working there, we will not be in a pandemic forever and as we emerge from lockdown, the question of what to do with the Mill Hall still remains.”

Simon Wootton, leader of Rochford Council, said: “My position is that we have requested a pause, and that is what we are doing. “We are pausing and reflecting, and will come back in due course.”