Colchester Council leader becoming chair of Hythe Taskforce

It comes as a new chair has been appointed for the Hythe Taskforce. 

The group was launched by Colchester MP Will Quince in May 2021 to finally tackle the area’s crumbling infrastructure and regenerate it.

The Hythe area of Colchester has been plagued by persistent flooding for decades, leaving residents facing lengthy waits and disrupting traders.

Experts thought they had located the source of the issue in water spilling from nearby Bourne Pond and Distillery Pond in November 2021 but later conceded they were wrong.

Mr Quince has said he is handing over the baton of chair in light of the news he will not stand as Colchester's MP at the next election. 

He will be replaced by Colchester Council leader David King. 

David King (Image: Newsquest)

Mr King said: “The responsibility and expertise sits with Anglian Water as the water authority and Essex County Council as the lead local flood authority and highways authority. 

“We cannot undertake or commission work where they, and not us, have the authority to act.”

He added: “But this is our city, and we accept a responsibility to help our partners scope what must be done, to contribute if we can, and to get things moving in the new year.” 

Established - MP Will Quince set up the Hythe Task Force in 2021 (Image: Newsquest)

Mr King thanked councillors for their support and Mr Quince for all his efforts and welcomed his continued involvement in the taskforce.    

The change in leadership comes as earlier this year the Gazette revealed Mr Quince has said he would not chair any further task force meetings until action is taken by Essex County Council, Anglian Water and Colchester Council.

Since 2021 it has met 13 times but not yet brought about a resolution. 

Mr Quince added: “I originally established the Hythe Taskforce to identify, fund and implement solutions to this decades old issue which has impacted and continues to impact local residents and businesses. 

“Although considerable exploratory work has been undertaken and potential solutions identified, the issue of the flooding at Haven Road has not yet been resolved.  

“As many will be aware, this year I made the difficult decision not to stand as Colchester’s Conservative parliamentary candidate at the next general election and as a result will not be able to chair the Hythe Taskforce in the future

“I am sure councillor King will make an excellent chair and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him and others to find a solution to this long-standing issue.” 

The taskforce is expected to meet again in early 2024 to agree on remedial works likely to include a new 'duck valve' that could reduce high tide flooding, and further studies into short- and longer-term flooding relief.