BATTLE lines have been drawn over the closure of Rayleigh’s Mill Hall centre with community groups left reeling over the loss of a vital facility.

The arts centre could close permanently with bosses stating this week that doors would not open until the site has been redeveloped into homes and a community centre.

Mike Wilkinson, independent councillor of the Wheatley ward, claims he was promised a “smooth transition” between the two centres by the leader of Rochford Council, Simon Wooton, over the summer.

He told the Echo there has been a “major U-turn” from council bosses - but they have put the move down to the impact of Covid-19.

It comes as leaders at Rayleigh Horticultural Society warned it would have to scrap its flower shows the centre does not re-open.

Rochford Council says it has concerns over the costs of keeping the centre open in “the current climate”.

Peter Noble, the society’s show manager, said: “We use it three times a year and have done for 40 or 50 years.

“We can’t go anywhere else, schools have a lot of steps in the way. We are made up of elderly people who are carrying heavy plants.

“There’s no point in moving far away as we’re the Rayleigh Horticultural Society. I don’t think we’ll be able to have any shows. It’s so frustrating for us.”

“We’ve got more than 1,000 members who have all missed socialising in the pandemic.”

Mike Wilkinson added: “I passed on the assurances to the public and community groups who are now in uproar.

“They are planning to go back on their word. It will be at least four or five years, if not more, before a new community centre is built. There hasn’t been any public consultation about this either. I was promised that too.”

Mike Webb, councillor in charge of leisure, added: “It had always been the intention that the building would remain open to the public until the new facility was available.

“Unfortunately, the impact of the current pandemic has decimated the national leisure market. It is sadly the case that the current centre is commercially unsustainable, particularly as it was running at a loss even prior to Covid-19.”

Councillors will meet this week to vote on the future of the centre and its contract with Fusion Leisure.