COUNCILLOR David King trotted out the tired argument that it wasn’t Roman, “only Victorian” remains that Alumno were destroying several square metres of, and said it was just a technical decision (Gazette, April 29, “Almost 1,000 have hit out at student flats ramp plan”).

If it's that technical, can I re-point out that the slightest glance at the drawing shows that there is a danger of a wheelchair or a person with vision difficulties tumbling down a flight of steps?

And that a steep 24-metre long ramp, even with slightly sloping resting places every now and again, is really difficult to push a manual wheelchair up?

And that one of the steps does not conform with building regulations?

Excited - Dorian Kelly, who is taking part

Letter-writer - Dorian Kelly

However, he is quite correct in saying that that particular part of the wall which is directly connected to the Roman section is not listed, which in fact came as a massive surprise to me as I thought it was protected along with the rest of the town wall.

That is a serious and negligent omission by Colchester Borough Council as part of the Victorian theatre wall is composed of Roman materials, (probably the remains of the collapsed Southgate or part of the Roman wall demolished to build the Theatre Royal), and incorporates 13th, 17th as well as 19th century local bricks.

It is an essential part of the wall’s history, just as much as the 14th century bastions and the 17th century siege breach repairs, which are not Roman either.

But the real strength in this record number of objections, is that fundamentally they are an objection to this entire grubby and valueless enterprise, characterised above all by a cavalier disdain for the people who live in and love Colchester and whose voice needs to be heard.

Dorian Kelly

Gladstone Road, Colchester

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