DEMOLITION work is progressing at pace on a £250,000 project to transform a 400-year-old pub into a new religious centre.

The South Essex Islamic Trust is converting the former Barge Inn on High Road, Vange into a Islamic community centre.

The charity says it’s fundraising £250,000 for the refurbishments of the site.

Outbuildings have already been demolished at The Barge Inn after the plans were given the green light following years of debate.

The South Essex Islamic Trust was given the go-ahead to convert the pub in High Road into “a place of worship and a community centre” in September.

Echo:

A spokesman for the charity said: “South Essex Islamic Trust has successfully begun construction to establish the first ever Islamic Centre in Basildon for our Muslim community.

“The charity which was formed in 2012, having purchased the facility in 2019, it has taken two long years to obtain permission from Basildon council.

“Based on the approval, it is required to meet the planning permission conditions hence further funding is required.

“We urge all our Muslim community to donate as much as possible for this historic and noble cause of having our very own home, our very own first Islamic Centre in Basildon.”

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Yetunde Adeshile, Tory councillor for Vange, said she’s working to ensure the whole community is able to use the new facility.

She said: “As far as I know the downstairs will be used for a pray area with three rooms upstairs being used for community groups and projects.

“It will be open for the whole community and everyone. I still think it’s the wrong place for this but they are making good use of the site.

“I am talking with the trust to ensure the aspect of whole community use of carried out.”

The trust purchased the pub and began fundraising for £250,000 to cover the full cost of the site in 2019.

It was sold for £450,000 at auction by Savills in September, for more than double the £200,000 guide price.

The site has been empty for about six years after it shut in 2015.