A senior Lib Dem has hit out the "loony left"'s continued criticism of plans for Colchester's new 'cultural quarter'.

In a scathing letter in today's Gazette, the Lib Dem leader attacks the "misinformation" being put forward by "clueless far left Labour Corbyn activists".

Critics have targeted plans for more than 300 student flats and have also cited design concerns for the plans put forward to replace the former bus station off Queen Street, in Colchester.

But Mr Goss, who is responsible for waste and street services in Colchester, labelled vociferous critics as subscribing to "the economics of magic money trees" and said alternative proposals being put forward by the group are "hot air substantiated by nothing".

Mr Goss writes: "It's time to set straight the misinformation being peddled by some clueless far left Labour Corbyn activists about the proposed Alumno project next the Curzon cinema and Firstsite.

"Firstly housing of some kind has always been planned for the area as far back as 2007. This first fact has of course been overlooked by the far left labour lot, therefore the original auspices of the application have not changed!

"Secondly the application includes performing arts space, space for community use which will be available at a peppercorn rent and other space which will be available for related businesses and initiatives.

"The media and left Labour lot appear to have got fixated on the student accommodation and forgotten to look at the other assets available as part of the scheme."

He adds: "Alumno have offered to meet and work with the experts we have in Colchester such as those who originally set up The Waiting Room to help shape this space for future use. Why not seize this opportunity and help shape it?

"The application also of course includes a new much needed hotel which will help to fill the deficit of hotel space we currently have in the town.

"Colchester Institute will signpost students to this development as available accommodation, along with others available in the town and the University of Essex have absolutely no issues with the scheme either. Yet the loony left say otherwise without evidence.

"The University of Essex is also expanding from 15,000 to 20,000 students over the coming years and even with all the student accommodation they are currently having built by a private third party, it clearly won't be enough to house the future planned growth.

"It proves how clueless some of the Labour left activists are as when asked what they wanted on the site and how it would be funded they simply have no answers.

"Clearly they are signed up to the economics of "magic money trees" and think it will simply self fund via the taxpayer. I need not remind people of the earlier controversies of Firstsite funding and how much the taxpayer has to dig in!

"I'm afraid private investment is required and if you check Alumno is in fact owned by a large social housing provider - another fact the loony left appear to have forgotten to check."

The council boss adds: "In a recent meeting with the new Priory Walk owners they are happy to look at significant investment in the shopping precinct but they won't do that unless we get on and regenerate the site.

"This scheme will clearly lead to much needed investment in this part of the town which residents are calling for.

"If this scheme is thrown out, the land will lay in this state for a further decade.

"So if the so called expert protesters do have a fully funded plan and business case perhaps you'd like to share it as so far all I've seen is hot air substantiated by nothing."