A PRIVATE therapy practice could open in a former community hall in Leigh’s Library Gardens, it has been revealed.

The public hall at the gardens, off Broadway West, has been out of use since the Covid pandemic.

The proposal for the private therapy practice is now set to be considered by Southend Council’s development control committee on Wednesday.

However, the scheme, put forward by the applicant known only as Mr Keal, has sparked fury from Leigh ward councillor Peter Wexham.

Concerns have been raised that funding was initially allocated for the building to be used as a community centre promoting the fishing trade.

In 2020, funding was granted from the Government’s “European Maritime and Fisheries Fund” for the building to be used for training, education, and marketing events to increase engagement between fishermen and the community.

Lib Dem Mr Wexham, who is to switch to neighbouring West Leigh ward for the local elections in May, said: “I am totally against it. The place was taken over from the parks department with the fisheries money to do things for fishery, that is what it was supposed to be used for.

“We did once get to a stage where Leigh Town Council was going to run it, but eventually they didn’t want to take on the lease from Southend.

“Then we had the Covid pandemic hit, and the fisherman never had the chance to use it until now.

“I am not very pleased. I want to stop the planning application and do something beneficial with the fishing industry.”

The planning application, which provides no additional information about the future use of the offices or details around the therapy practice, states there would be 20 days of the year where the building could be used by the community.

However, Leigh Conservation and Heritage, formerly known as the Leigh Society, has also objected to the plans and fears “commercial use” of the building sets a worrying precedent.

In an objection submitted to the council, the group stated: “In allowing this change of use a dangerous precedent would be set for future intrusion of commercial uses into public assets such as the gardens.”

The building sits within the Leigh Conservation Area.

Councillors have been recommended to back the proposal with a final decision to be delegated to planning officers.