Plans to revamp West Maldon Community Centre have been given the thumbs up by district councillors.

The community association has unveiled plans to extend the hall and create a bar and carpeted seating area.

Maldon District Council leases the centre to the community association and members of the community and leisure services committee on Tuesday recommended that the scheme go ahead subject to it seeing final design details and costings and planning consent being obtained.

It also wanted to see the use of materials matching the existing construction wherever possible.

The project could cost up to £60,000 for the external work said community association vice-chairman, John Pegram.

He added: "It is going to take away an atmosphere of being a sports hall.

It will have a carpeted and seated area that can be shut off from the rest of the hall and cater for another 60 people.

"At the moment the main hall comfortably takes about 150 people, hopefully it will mean more bookings and more events."

Mr Pegram said the association would be looking for lottery funding and private funding to finance the venture.

The association is also currently refurbishing the grounds of the centre. Around £350 worth of plants will be planted where currently there are weeds.

"It is something we have been meaning to do and we have raised the money and have put contracts out for the work," said Mr Pegram.

Community association vice chairman Mr John Pegram outside the centre the association hopes to revamp and showing where the new plants will be installed.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.