A RUNDOWN community hall is back under the control of Castle Point Council.

Hadleigh Hall, off Rectory Road, has been privately run since 2005 and hired out for music and leisure events. However, groups using the hall said it has fallen into a poor state.

Dave Freeman, who operated the hall under the company name Sovereign Leisure, has handed it back to the council. He said he had been unable to fund refurbishments.

The council says it will carry out improvements and run the hall until another company or group can be found to take it on.

Ward councillor Cliff Brunt said: “The council is now trying to put it back into order.

“I am sure there are people who are interested.”

The toilets and facilities were described as “grubby” and there was no hot water or central heating at the hall during the winter. Users were provided with plug-in heaters instead. A number of groups who used the hall in the past moved out, leaving a fortnightly jazz club as one of the only regular bookings.

Hadleigh Evening Women’s Institute decided to quit the hall last November after more than 30 years there. Founder member Pat Millard said: “In its heyday, it was lovely. We had caretakers there and they used to keep it beautifully. Council chief executive David Marchant said the lease was voluntarily surrendered.

He added: “Officers are checking to ensure the hall is safe for public use before making it available for hirers and are putting the necessary operational arrangements in place.

“We are seeking to minimise disruption to existing hirers and if necessary they will be offered the use of other council-operated halls. Longer term options for the operation of the hall are currently being considered, but in the meantime the facility will be operated in-house by the council.”

Mr Freeman did not rule out offering to run the hall again in future. He said: “The problem was I was only a shareholder, at the end I was given no option.

“It is not what I wanted. I got on really well with my clients.

“What I am hoping for is I am going to get back in the hall and start turning it around and do the sort of work I wanted to do.”

Anyone interested in using the hall can contact Castle Point Council on 01268 882200.