Mersea Island Web Portal

Colchester MP ‘should be trained on our planning rules’

8:00pm Saturday 3rd December 2011 in News

A COUNCIL leader has offered Bob Russell a training course after he showed “breathtaking incompetence” over planning rules.

The Gazette reported yesterday how the Colchester Lib Dem MP had written an angry letter to Tendring Council about proposals to “dump” thousands of homes at the edge of the town.

However, Conservative Neil Stock, leader of Tendring Council, said the plans had been put forward by developers, not by the council.

Mr Stock said: “I am staggered a professional politician of Mr Russell’s experience can be so ignorant of the planning process.

“He displays breathtaking incompetence in not realising the proposals put forward are from a Colchester developer and are not part of Tendring Council’s plans.

“All councils have a legal duty to consult on any proposals submitted by third parties, while drawing up their local development framework.

“Mr Russell should apologise for his mistake and needs to attend a training course to understand how the modern planning system works.

“I can ask my officers to assist with this if it would be helpful.”

Mr Stock added a response letter would be sent to Mr Russell with the council’s stance on the proposals.

The building plans, which have just been put out to Tendring residents for consultation, include provision for 3,000 homes between Elmstead Market and Greenstead, and 600 homes between Ardleigh and the St John’s estate.

Mr Russell said: “I regret the personalised comments from councillor Stock.

“I am, however, encouraged by part of what he says and therefore I look forward to an early announcement from Tendring Council that the council will oppose proposals from Mersea Homes to build on the fields adjacent to the Greenstead estate in the parish of Elmstead.

“Likewise, I hope the council will resist any moves to extend the St John’s area of Colchester northwards to the A120, in the parish of Ardleigh.

“I think my constituents are entitled to more respect than that which councillor Stock has displayed.”