A VET’S surgery could be built on the car park of Colchester’s former Drury Arms pub.

Colchester Council is being asked to approve plans to put the surgery next to the pub site, on the corner of Layer Road and Drury Road, where a controversial Sainsbury’s Local store is soon to open.

Landowner Property Portfolio’s proposal for a two-storey vet’s surgery has quickly run into local opposition.

Opponents fear the planned clinic would be too big for the site. They are also are worried the Layer Road - Drury Road junction would not cope with extra traffic.

Shrub End councillor Lyn Barton said: “I’m shocked.

“This is a complete new building plonked on the corner of the pub site.

“We’ve had a real battle about access issues at the junction. I also wonder whether this will take parking spaces away from the store.

“We were told there would only be one access point to the store and it would be very tight for manoeuvring delivery lorries.”

Clive Reynolds, headteacher of nearby Hamilton Primary School, in Constantine Road, is also worried.

He said: “There will be more traffic crossing the pavement. It seems quite strange they want to consider yet another project, which could increase traffic flow, without waiting to see what the impact will be from the Sainsbury’s store.”

However, Property Portfolio’s Simon Allen, said the company hoped the surgery would “set off the site in a nice manner, rather than upsetting anyone”.

He added: “From a community point of view, we thought this would be a welcome asset. There is a long history to the Drury Arms site but it is what it is, and this does not take up any of the area which forms the supermarket plans and will not impinge on the delivery area of the new store.”

It is understood the surgery would be run by Vets For Pets, which is based in the Pets at Home shop, across town in Cowdray Avenue and would create four jobs.

The application says the surgery would be open between 8.30am and 7pm weekdays, 8.30am until 5.30pm Saturdays and 10am until 4pm Sundays.