THE future of a community village hall appears in jeopardy after its owners, Thurrock Council, said it would not be able to carry out necessary repairs – despite upping the annual lease for the building to £10,000.

A crisis situation appears to have arisen around East Tilbury Village hall – prompting the area's MP to condemn the council for 'ripping off the community'.

The building plays host to a range of community activities and the is base for the East Tilbury Children's Centre offering services and help for parents and children in the village and surrounding community.

It is available for private functions and has frequently used by the council for consultations and as a polling station. It also hosts events including local markets and craft fairs as well as being home to dance and fitness classes.

Last month the committee, a registered charitable organisation, that runs the hall on Princess Margaret Road was shocked to learn its rent would be going up, despite the hall needing considerable repairs to keep it secure and safe for users.

Leading committee member Lisa Hearn says she was stunned to get a telephone call from the council regarding new lease terms for the hall.

She says: "The proposed terms state that the council would grant us use of the hall as we see fit for a rental cost of £10,000 per year.

The recently refurbished hall frontage.

"I expressed concerns during the call, highlighting that we are already responsible for the hall's upkeep, including painting and decorating. When I inquired about the benefits, we would gain from entering into this new lease, I was informed that there would be none.

"I further asked what would happen if we chose to continue without a lease, and I was told that the council would remain responsible for the external maintenance of the building. I then pointed out several critical repairs needed, including:

• - Replacement (not repair) of windows, estimated at £11,000
• - Fixing the shutters, estimated at £2,500
• - Significant work required in the basement, estimated at £25,000
• - Repairs to the outside steps and installation of new handrails

"Unfortunately, the council has stated that there are no funds available for these essential repairs. As it stands, we are at an impasse; the committee and trustees are unable to agree to the terms of the new lease without these major works being addressed.

"We are considering seeking legal advice as the current situation appears inequitable, and if unresolved, it may lead to the hall's closure in January 2025."

The council's response, when quizzed by Thurrock Nub News, was brief and made no mention of financial pressures.

It said: "The terms of our lease provide that while the council is responsible for carrying out some repairs to the property, the tenant is responsible for bearing the cost of all repairs to the property. If we carry out any repairs the tenant is liable for reimbursing any, and all, of the costs the council incurs. 

"These are the lease terms the hall has always been let to the current tenants under."

The council's reaction has angered local residents and councillors.

Independent East Tilbury councillor Sue Sammons said: "I have serious concerns over this. It is  a small hall and is used by the community.

"Without this hall the community would be left with nothing.

"It is particularly upsetting as this community is owed considerable Section 106 money paid by developers for the many new houses that have been built here. The community has got very little back for all the additional pressure these new homes have put on local infrastructure.

"We have been fighting for without success for several years to get that spent where it should be spent – and now this!"

MP James McMurdock has called on Thurrock Council to change its position over East Tilbury Village Hall.

Recently-elected MP James McMurdock says he has serious concerns about the council's response 'about the future of this vital community facility' and terms of a new lease.

He says: "The suggested rent increase, coupled with a shift in responsibility for repairs to the community group, presents an unsustainable situation for the hall's management and threatens its continued operation."

Mr McMurdock emphasised the hall's critical role in providing essential services and a gathering space for the community, expressing concern that the new terms could force its closure if a fair and reasonable compromise isn't reached.

He added: "It is deeply troubling that the Council has not yet conducted a proper assessment of the impact that losing this community hub would have on local residents.

"This facility is the heart of East Tilbury, supporting countless local activities and services. The council must take this into consideration and work with the committee to find a feasible solution that keeps the doors of the hall open."

Mr McMurdock is calling for Thurrock Council to 'reconsider its position and engage in meaningful discussions with the East Tilbury Village Hall Committee to secure a lease that is both affordable and fair', adding: "The community deserves better. 

"Rather than imposing unworkable terms, the council should be focusing on supporting local groups like the East Tilbury Village Hall Committee. They play an irreplaceable role in bringing people together and supporting social cohesion.

"Loss of this community asset will leave vulnerable people isolated and leave another building empty, neglected, and to make things worse, this will further reduce revenue into the stricken council.

"This is the latest example of the secondary effects the catastrophic investment scandal is having on our community.

 "We need our community active and engaged. Ripping them off and forcing them out with poorly thought-out lease terms makes quality of life in the community worse and the council poorer."

The hall was originally a cinema, built by the Philanthropic Bata shoe company and opened for the first time Friday 14 October 1938. 

It showed films three or four times a week for Bata workers and guests. It showed films, plays and was used for meetings. 

During the 60s the massive decline of cinema support meant it finally closed its doors to film in 1965.