Colchester Council has given residents cause for celebration by turning down plans for a development behind the town's Mill Hotel.

Members of the council's planning sub-committee agreed to refuse the plans for 34 three-bedroom flats on Thursday night.

Chairman Ray Gamble told the committee it had made a "brave" decision as the site already has permission for a 68-bedroom motel which could be built at any time.

Planning officers had recommended the flats plan be allowed as it would have less impact than the motel if it was built.

Permission was also granted - but has expired - for 34 flats to be built at the site and the current application is effectively a renewal of that.

Councillors had been warned by planning officers that a refusal of this renewal would be unreasonable.

Residents had objected to the scheme claiming it would increase traffic problems, the access would be unsafe and that the area is marked as open space.

Riverside Residents' Association also objected and voiced fears that the access would be dangerous and that attractive trees and shrubs on the site would be lost.

The site, behind the East Street hotel, also forms part of the Riverside Walk which was dedicated to the council as part of the permission for the 34 flats.

This bought added pressure to approve the plans.

John Jowers (Con, West Mersea) said: "We have to look at the downside of this, that we could lose Riverside Walk which was only given to us on the goodwill of the owner of the land."

He added that more investigation and research was needed into how traffic problems in the East Bay area could be solved.

Philip Hawkins (Lab, Wivenhoe) said negotiations should be underway to see if Riverside Walk could be bought by the council.

However, the committee agreed to refuse the plans given the strong public feeling.

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