CAMPAIGNING councillors have vowed to continue to fight "to the bitter end" against the building of 1,000 houses on Middlewick Ranges as D-day looms for the controversial site.
Questions were put to Colchester Council’s cabinet about widely-opposed blueprints to develop the MoD-owned Wick – dubbed the green lungs of Colchester by campaigners.
The land is expected to be sold for development when firing operations move to Fingringhoe, despite mass objections from residents.
At an upcoming meeting on Monday, the authority’s Local Plan committee is expected to recommend the plan to full council for a final vote.
In a report set to go before the committee, planning inspectors said although the Wick is a “complex” site, its allocation for residential development as part of the Local Plan is “an opportunity to reuse an extensive area of land previously used for MoD purposes”.
Inspectors said, subject to “modifications” based on mitigating steps including lessening the environmental impact, the plan for the Wick is “justified, positively prepared, consistent and deliverable”.
READ MORE: Middlewick Ranges plans get the go ahead from inspectors
Addressing the council’s cabinet at a meeting on Wednesday, Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell said: “We can blame the Government and the lack of determination at Parliamentary level to prevent Middlewick being lost, but this council agreed to put 1,000 houses on Middlewick when it didn’t have to.”
The council’s current deputy leader Adam Fox said he would continue to campaign against the development of the Wick.
Despite the inclusion of the Ranges in the Local Plan, he holds out hope the MoD will not sell the site for housing.
He said: “I have been to Westminster, visited the MoD with ward councillors, we have petitioned the Prime Minister, we have continued to put up the fight where others have been found wanting.
“There is a process in place and a Government inspector has now found that Middlewick can be developed for 1,000 houses.
“So it will be up to every single one of the 51 councillors and every single one of the 51 councillors will have the opportunity to vote.
“What I have always said is we have to protect the environment there at Middlewick and I think there are opportunities to ensure that is protected, either as a country park or a nature reserve, and that is what I will continue to do - to lobby the MoD to not develop that land.”
Mr Fox said the planning system is "in the hands of landowners and developers".
He said: "It’s not in the hands of councillors unfortunately, and the onus is on us as a council to put together a local development plan that meets the targets handed down to us from Government and to respond to landowners that come forward with land.
"It’s clear to me there are lots of people in my own ward who do not want Middlewick developed and, having [previously] voted at the Local Plan committee, it was not an indication I wanted that land developed, but it was an indication we need to have a Local Plan."
Addressing the cabinet, Berechurch ward councillor Dave Harris added: “There is a process, we all know who is selling the land – it is certainly not us selling that land.
“I would prefer it to be a nature reserve with all my heart and all my being, and that’s what I shall join you, councillor Fox, in campaigning for until the very bitter end.”
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 hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel