1,100 sign petition opposing Mersea beach huts plan
8:00pm Monday 12th September 2011
MORE than 1,000 islanders and West Mersea visitors have signed a petition opposing plans to build beach huts on a green field.
Mary Paddon collected more than 1,100 signatures after learning of Colchester Council’s proposals to build 30 beach huts on the Victoria Esplanade car park opposite her home.
The grassy site is sometimes used for parking and at other times by youngsters for games.
The council says building and selling the huts, which would not directly overlook the sea, could could earn it ÂŁ300,000 and help balance the books in the face of Government spending cuts.
However, petitioners say the field is a popular local amenity and argue the huts would destroy an attractive view of the seafront for residents and tourists alike.
Mrs Paddon has presented the petition to West Mersea’s Tory borough councillor, Margaret Kimberley.
She stressed it had been signed by people from across the island and many visitors, too.
She added: “This is not my personal issue. We are all against Colchester Council’s proposal.
“It has generated a lot of bad feeling from the beginning.”
Mrs Kimberley said she fully supported the petition’s aims and would tell Town Hall colleagues the idea was a non-starter.
She added: “The other consideration is it’s been put on paper this project is purely to raise money.
“It’s extremely debatable whether it will actually achieve that, because there are between 50 and 60 beach huts for sale on the island already – most of them in the front row, looking out to sea and in good condition.
“It’s very improbable, even if new huts were built, they would sell.”
Objectors are also angry because they say public notices announcing the planning application are not posted prominently enough to be effective.
One is on a kiosk on the site, but the other two are wrapped around lamp posts, one facing a road where there is no pavement.
The application is due to be decided by the council’s planning committee later this year.