COUNCILLORS unanimously voted against proposals which would have inflicted "disfigurement" to the historic Law Library at Colchester Town Hall.
Colchester Council has submitted an application to make changes to the room at the grade-I listed building.
However, councillor voted to reject the proposals, following concerns being raised about the changes.
Sir Bob Russell, Colchester High Steward, spoke at the planning committee meeting in opposition to the plans.
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He said: "The Town Hall is a grade-I listed building. This listing applies to the whole building – not just its external appearance, but also all internal aspects.
"That the Council is seeking to inflict such disfigurement to a listed building which it is entrusted to look after does not set a good example to the owners of all other listed buildings.
"If the council gives itself planning consent for such works then it will make it more difficult, with such a precedent, for the council in future to oppose applications for listed building consents in particular for the more numerous buildings with a lower listed building status."
Councillors vote unanimously, nine to zero, to reject the application.
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