ALMOST a third of a popular community hall will make way when Halstead Town Council controversially moves into the building, it has been revealed.

Halstead Town Council is to move into Queens Hall temporarily before it is evicted by the new owners of Townsford Mill next March.

Building work needs to be carried out to prepare the Chipping Hill site, including the removal of the stage.

Plans for the changes were submitted to Braintree Council this week, and the full extent of the work was revealed at Monday night’s full council meeting.

Halstead Flower Club has previously criticised the changes, and feel the reduction in size could have a detrimental affect on other community groups.

Angela Kerrison, of Halstead Flower Club, said: “It would mean we would not be able to hold our annual meeting there.

“Reducing the size of the hall by a third would not allow us to host 100 people, and I think it would affect other groups as well.

“It is a lot of work and money for a short term solution.”

Initially, the flower club feared it may have to cancel its annual fundraiser.

But an agreement has been reached with the council to allow the event to go ahead on July 5.

During Monday’s meeting, Councillor Mick Radley stressed this was only a transitional move which would last two or three years.

Fellow councillor Jackie Pell said once a temporary stage was put in place, the size of the hall would be reduced by roughly a third.

The full Queens Hall project will see the conversion of the stage into offices, a new disabled toilet, and the conversion of the bar into a new kitchen.

The boiler will also be replaced and an intruder alarm installed, with the town council seeking businesses from within the town and surrounding area to complete the work.

In the long-term, the town council intends to operate out of the much-delayed Halstead Community Centre when it is built.

In a statement, the council said: “The council has thought long and hard and it is not a decision that has been taken lightly.

However, the dramatic savings in public funding will make a significant difference to the town council, and the community.

“The council regrets that there will be some disruption but the situation is unavoidable, and we hope the work will leave the hall in a better shape.”