Hadleigh taxpayers will have to repay an extra £120.000 loan after Hadleigh town council agreed to apply for a loan to help pay for the new pavilion at the Layham Road Sports Ground.

In a confidential meeting on Monday, town councillors agreed by split decision to move forward with awarding the design and build contract through to RIBA stages four and five and to make an application to the Public Works Loan Board towards the estimated £850,000.

The construction company provisionally awarded is understood to be Bedfordshire-based Hutchinson, sparking concerns there would be no employment opportunities for trades people in the Hadleigh area.

It is also understood some councillors wanted to explore the possibility of use a less expensive modular building, but this was not considered fully by the projects officer, according to someone with inside knowledge of the these matters.

The £120,000 PWLB loan towards the cost of these stages has not been finalised and more borrowing may be required. An insurance payout of around £240,000 will be used but more grants or sponsorship will still be required to cover the costs.

This will mean an additional increase of 0.9% to the Hadleigh precept just to cover the, which will be discussed at the full council meeting on 18 January 2024. Councillors look at the budget for 2024/2025.

The precept increase is recommended at three per cent, which is in addition to precepts set by the Suffolk county council, Babergh district council, and the police and crime commissioner.

The pavilion replaces one burnt down more than four years ago, and would be used mainly by the rugby club and tennis clubs.