New details have been announced of the impending controversial council takeover of a sports and social club.

The management of the Ongar Social and Sports Club, in Love Lane, will pass to Ongar Town Council when the lease runs out in February, despite a majority of residents voting for it to retain with the current committee.

Plans for the club and surrounding grounds, which the council now refers to as the Ongar Jubilee Park, have been announced by appointed manager Angus McKenzie.

Refurbishment of the lounge bar, extension of opening hours and free customer wifi are all part of Mr McKenzie’s vision to make the club “a focal point of social life” in Ongar.

A new kitchen, funded by a £13,000 Essex County Council grant, and a busier events calendar including a visit from Ongar’s twin town of Cerizay in France, had already been announced.

The plans were set out at a town council meeting on Thursday, where the council decided to ignore a public poll that had voted against their takeover plans.

The voluntary management committee that currently runs the club has told The Guardian that it is seeking legal advice to fight the council’s plans.