A COMFORTABLE majority of councillors voted through Section 2 of Colchester's Local Plan despite stiff opposition from campaigners.

A total of 38 councillors were present at the meeting at Colchester Town Hall on Monday evening to vote on the Local Plan, which includes Middlewick Ranges in future property developments.

The motion to adopt the Local Plan was comfortably carried, with 26 councillors voting in favour of adoption, five councillors voting against, and seven councillors abstaining from the vote.

Twelve councillors were absent from the extraordinary general meeting.

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The councillors who voted in favour were Tracy Arnold, Lyn Barton, Molly Bloomfield, Michelle Burrows, Helen Chuah, Mark Cory, Pamela Cox, Adam Fox, Martin Goss, Mike Hogg, John Jowers, David King, Richard Kirkby Taylor, Jocelyn Law, Jackie Maclean, Sam McLean, Patricia Moore, Kayleigh Rippingale, Lesley Scott-Boutell, Paul Smith, Rhys Smithson, William Sunnucks, Dennis Willetts, Barbara Wood, Julie Young and Tim Young.

The councillors who voted against adopting the Local Plan were Mark Goacher, Sue Lissimore, Sam McCarthy, Michael Spindler and Leigh Tate.

The seven councillors who abstained from the vote were Darius Laws, Mike Lilley, David Harris, Roger Mannion, Chris Pearson, Lee Scordis, and Martyn Warnes.