Halstead Senior Citizen’s Centre is set to be demolished within weeks.

User groups were forced to leave the New Street centre when it closed in July this year under Braintree Council plans to save £15,000 per year.

The centre, which was built in 1944, was originally The Anglo-American Servicemen’s Club before being turned into the Senior Citizen’s Centre in 1972.

Many groups, from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to Park Pre-School went on to use the centre.

A Braintree Council spokesman said: “[Since the closure] the Council has tendered and appointed a demolition contractor and is in the process of getting all the services disconnected.

“It will then look to demolish it shortly, which is likely to be in December.

“A report is likely to go to February’s cabinet which will recommend a proposal for an affordable housing scheme with a partner housing association.”

It is thought up to ten homes could be built on the site but the partner housing association is yet to confirmed.

Halstead Town Council is continuing to work with the district council on plans for a new community centre in Butler Road.

It is hoped the new centre, which will cost upwards of £1million, could be open in 2015.