The council has officially accepted a joint letter from 57 signatories, who ask council to maintain and restore the Mechanics’ Institute, not demolish it, and also to find an alternative site for the hub.

General manager community service Kathleen Brannigan said community consultation had been taking place since April 2014.

However, following a recent protest at the hall and “strong views” being expressed, Ms Brannigan confirmed the council would re-commence its consultation process to consider “other design options”.

During early assessments, the council determined the institute was of low heritage value, and levels of maintenance and upkeep relative to its value were seen as “questionable”.

To avoid getting to the end of this next round of community consultations only to come up against the same ire, council plans to first “establish an agreed scope” for the process.

Councillor Bill McClenaghan argued others sites needed to be considered in that process.

“It is clear to us – very, very much – that the community of Trentham are saying yes, we want a community hub,” he said.

“What is not clear is whether different groups want it on the Mechanics’ site or not.

“I’m suggesting here to open it up and look at other sites which may be open for the hub.”

Cr McClenaghan said a Victoria Street Crown land site could be an option worth reconsidering, previously rejected by council staff for not being an ideal site.

“We were looking at knocking down someone else’s building when we had a perfectly good piece of land that was ‘not ideal’,” he said.

“It may be the future of Trentham involves the active Mechanics’ Institute on the existing site.”

An idea of upgrading the institute and re-using it as a library had previously been abandoned by council.