AN AGEING community hall is set to be demolished after a Castle Point Council investigation found repairing it would be too expensive.

The Royal British Legion Hall, which is situated in Endway car park, Hadleigh, will be knocked down, more than 80 years after it first opened.

A report, which will be considered by the council’s cabinet committee tomorrow night, states it would cost £55,351 to make the building safe to the public because of problems with its structure and asbestos in the walls.

Jeffrey Stanley, deputy leader of Castle Point Council, said even if the building could be reopened, its cramped toilets and kitchen meant it was not up to the standard of a modern community centre.

He added: “What we would get for £55,000 is just making it safe.

“It’s an old building that has had its day. It is simply not suitable for what is required of a 21st-century community hall.”

The report states demolishing the building will cost more than £41,000.

Mr Stanley said the expense was due to costs associated with getting rid of asbestos.

The hall has been boarded up since mid-June after the Royal British Legion decided not to renew its lease for the building, which it has held since it first opened.

The council is keen to undertake the demolition as soon as possible due to the threat of vandalism.

In late June, firefighters were called to Endway car park after a recycling bin beside the hall was deliberately set on fire.

The fire scorched the building’s walls, but was put out before causing significant damage.

A council spokeswoman said: “Fortunately, the firefighters were able to deal with it.

“However, it could have been a very serious incident, had the whole hall gone up in flames.”

The council is hoping to start the demolition work by the end of September.