DONATIONS towards plans to build a £15million hospice have plummeted over the last year.

Accounts published by Havens Hospices show £6,000 was promised to the charity’s bid to build a new home for its adults’ hospice in 2011/12 - down from £49,000 during the previous 12 months.

Havens’ plans have slipped into controversy after it chose to target a green belt site off Belton Way West, Leigh, and its proposals were rejected by Southend Council in October.

However, its overall income from donations did increase - from £3.9million in 2010/11 to £4.4million in 2011/12.

Campaigners have previously claimed Havens’ determination to build on the Belton Way West site would disillusion supporters.

Nigel Holdcroft, the Tory leader of Southend Council, said: “I have been contacted by residents who are quite distraught at what is happening.

“Many were leaving their entire estates to the hospice, but are actively changing their wills because of the hospice’s controversial decision.”

James McFadden, 56, of Canvey Road, Leigh, added: “All they are doing is turning people off.

“This just shows it.”

Donations to Havens are split into two categories - those which are ring-fenced for a certain purpose, and those which the charity can spend as it sees fit.

In 2010, the charity set up a special ring-fenced fund for its new hospice plans.

It is that fund which has seen a decrease in donations between April 2011 and March 2012, according to accounts published last week.

However, the sum of unrestricted donations rose from £844,000 in 2010/11 to £1.275million in 2011/12.

A spokeswoman for Havens said more than £2million had been pledged towards the fund for the new hospice, the vast majority of which came from a large will when it was set up.

The charity argued specific donations had not fallen over the last year because they tended to be large gifts left in wills, and therefore unpredictable as to when they might arrive.

Andy Smith, Havens’ chief executive, added: “Not a penny of the everyday donations we receive from people joining in our events or organising their own has been used for the planning of a new Fair Havens hospice.

“The designated fund started with a substantial legacy, which has been added to by people who’ve told us: ‘we believe in this’.

“They have faith knowing their money will be used to provide patients with hospice care in a space suited to their specialist needs.”

Havens has vowed to appeal the council’s refusal to grant planning permission.

It revealed last month it had already spent £1.1million on the design, research and planning costs for its Belton Way proposals.