A MUCH sought after community centre was mentioned as one of the focal points of investment in the district.

Braintree Council Leader Graham Butland assured Halstead councillors at a Cabinet meeting that the town was not being left out from its strategy.

When the idea of the Halstead Community Centre first came to light the council pledged to set aside £600,000 in grant money to fund it.

Earlier this year the site at Butler Road was officially handed over to the Halstead Community Centre Charitable Company, which will house the town's museum, council offices, library and meeting rooms.

Jackie Pell, trustee, said: "We have been assured the money is safe as part of our business plan and the money will be used for the bricks and mortar to actually build the centre.

"It's been a long process which frustrates us but it needs to be done, and it's much closer now than it ever was. We cant wait to start building it.

"The District Council and Town Council have been very supportive of it as this is for the whole town."

Anne Cartwright, secretary to the community centre charitable company, said they are still short of funding but felt confident work could start imminently.

She said: "We are still roughly half a million pounds short but all the trustees are very confident we can find the money through grant applications or donations.

"Braintree Council has been supporting us from the start and without their support we wouldn't have got to this point. Hopefully the community centre will be able to help with healthcare provision in some way, through things like exercise classes."