Alumno: Anger as ramp plan is approved by the Colchester Council

Colchester Council planning officers have rubber stamped Alumno’s proposals for the ramp, linking Priory Street car park with its 336 student flats development.

More than 930 people objected to the plans online, but they were approved on the day of last week’s elections.

Campaigners are worried about the impact of the ramp on the town wall, despite Alumno’s assurances it would not be harmed.

But the plans have been approved, paving the way for the much-maligned development to go ahead.

Dorian Kelly has helped lead the fight against the scheme, which also features a Travelodge hotel, retail units and open space on land off Queen Street.

He said: “It was never in doubt that the officers of Colchester Council who now hold absolute power to approve or deny planning proposals would pass the application for this access ramp.

“However flawed, however onerous the push of a manual wheelchair up at 25m long ramp is, however much damage it does to a wall made from Roman materials with 13th century bricks, and despite the fact that a wheelchair can tumble down a flight of steps because there is no safety rail.

“Questions need to be asked and we are going to ask them.”

Read more:

• Alumno: Almost 1,000 object to student flats ramp plans
• Alumno: Councillors won't vote on controversial ramp plans
• 4 controversial Colchester planning applications awaiting decisions
• Alumno: Firm says no harm will come to Colchester's town wall

Colchester’s former MP Sir Bob Russell added: “It is such a disregard to Colchester’s heritage, an arrogance which I believe has contributed to the ejection of the ruling administration of Colchester Council whose cabinet chose to do everything they could to ignore the unanimous 10-0 rejection of the Planning Committee.

“What a coincidence this has happened on the cusp of a change of administration. Almost a two-fingered sign to the people of Colchester by officialdom.”

Essex County Council holds a covenant on the site, which it has not yet lifted.

Sir Bob added: "It is still not a done deal that the Alumno development will proceed – if the Conservative administration on Essex County Council stand firm with the legal Covenant they have on the site of the former Bus Station, to which the new Conservative-led administration at Colchester Town Hall will hopefully carry out their promise to reverse the slavish support which the ousted administration had given this proposed monstrous development."