Community leaders have hit out at the news that yet another obstacle has been thrown in the path of £70million leisure and retail park earmarked for the outskirts of Colchester.
The long-running legal battle over the Tollgate Village proposals has taken another turn, with town centre giants Fenwick and Lion Walk Property SARL launching their second appeal against the development.
Despite a High Court judge throwing out their first challenge against the proposals last week, bosses are calling for yet another review into the project’s viability, due to take place next month.
They have requested to have their appeal against the development – which aims to bring an assortment of shops, restaurants and a multi-screen cinema to Stanway – heard by a new specialist planning judge.
Priti Patel, who represents Stanway as part of her Witham constituency, said: “Tollgate Village has been widely welcomed by the local community and will bring in new jobs to this part of Essex. The project had been delayed by the appalling actions of Colchester Borough Council and the latest legal challenge is a disappointment.
“I have always held the view that we can have a prosperous Tollgate Village along with a prosperous town centre in Colchester and I would urge all parties who opposed it to focus their efforts on their own businesses and the town centre rather than trying to block it.
Deputy Colchester council leader Tim Young, who originally spoke out about the development over fears it would destroy town centre business, said the council’s view now is to accept Tollgate Village as part of the town’s forward plan. He added: “We’ve got to concentrate on making sure the town centre isn’t harmed by it and to make sure Colchester has a thriving and vibrant economy able to support developments like Tollgate Village and our own Northern Gateway.”
Representatives for Fenwick and Lion Walk Property SARL were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
Tollgate Partnership directors Daniel Watts and Jayne Gee said: “Obviously, we are disappointed that the challenge has been renewed and that Fenwick are denying the people of Colchester investment, jobs, new shopping and leisure facilities, as well as significant road infrastructure improvements.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here