Hopes of restoring Rayleigh's historic windmill as a tourist attraction have been dashed by a snub from the lottery.

Mavis Webster - furious Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Mavis Webster, chairman of Rochford District Council's windmill sub-committee, today said she was "hopping mad" the authority had been let down again.

The council first made an application for money from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2002. That bid was rejected but the council's hopes were raised in positive follow-up talks.

Mrs Webster said: "We took the advice we were given by officers from the Heritage Lottery Fund and produced a detailed brief.

"A similar project to the one at the mill has been agreed in North Yorkshire. I just don't know where we will go from here."

Plans for the mill, a prominent landmark near Rayleigh Mount, would have meant it being open to the public with new exhibits on the history of the area.

The Heritage Lottery Fund said it could not discuss details.

Published Friday August 13, 2004

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