Colchester Council apologises over Donyland Woods homes mix-up

Colchester Council’s website had said Donyland Woods had been put forward as a potential housing site as part of the authority’s “call for sites” consultation.

Old Heath and Hythe councillor Mike Lilley raised concerns about the potential of the historic woodland being bulldozed to make way for new homes at a council meeting last week.

Council officer Beth Jones reassured Mr Lilley the site had only been promoted for green uses, but when fact-checked by the Gazette, the council’s website suggested otherwise.

Concerned - Old Heath and Hythe councillor Mike Lilley

The council has now confirmed the information on its website was incorrect and has apologised for the error.

A spokesman said: “Due to how some of the forms were completed online, the online report, including Donyland Woods, incorrectly includes residential use as one of the promoted uses.

“We have reviewed the submitted site forms and can confirm this is an error. We are currently correcting it, and the online information will be updated to reflect this change as soon as possible.

“The information provided to the local plan committee is accurate: none of the sites at Middlewick or Donyland Woods have been promoted through the call for sites for anything other than green/environmental uses.”

Historic - Donyland Woods in Colchester (Image: Roger Jones)

Mr Lilley told the Gazette residents were getting worried the Ministry of Defence-owned land, which is next to Middlewick Ranges which is already earmarked for the development of 1,000 homes, might be built on.

“We need reassurance it’s never going to be a site for houses,” he said.

High Steward of Colchester, Sir Bob Russell, also raised concerns about the inclusion of 40 acres of water meadows off Cymbeline Way in the consultation.

Frustrated - High Steward of Colchester, Sir Bob Russell

The former MP said: “This is an extraordinary state of affairs that the city council is issuing documents into the public domain to be discussed by councillors and thanks to the diligence of the Gazette we now find that what was produced is not all what it should be.

“That is a serious shortcoming. It does draw into question how many other sites have led to the wrong conclusion being drawn. This is simply not good enough.”

The council added: “We are sorry for this error. As soon as we became aware of it, officers began working on a correction.

“While we rely on support from an external software provider to finalise the update, we are prioritising its completion.”