A controversial £3.1million hall for the Salvation Army is set to be built despite opposition from some Castle Point councillors.

Plans for the complex in Hadleigh sparked anger from Charles Smith (Lab, Cedar Hall), who said the buildings would destroy the look of the area.

The Salvation Army's millennium project will include converting the present citadel, in London Road which is too small and has too few facilities into a new and larger hall.

The new building will have a larger main worship hall as well as a kitchen, reception area, general purposes room and a foyer.

Two 100-year-old cottages on the site will be converted into offices and meeting rooms.

Mr Smith said: "We should have set up a conservation area in Hadleigh. We are getting rid of two buildings we should be keeping.

"They are from 1955 and are interesting buildings and a part of Hadleigh. The two cottages, which I am glad they are going to keep, will look totally out of place with these other buildings behind them.

"If they had been in the conservation area we would certainly have objected. By allowing this it is a further vandalism of old Hadleigh."

Councillors inspected the Salvation Army's hall in Staines, Middlesex, last week to get some idea of what the proposed hall would look like.

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