Mersea Island food and drink festival plans rejected again

Businessman Nick Moffat is looking to stage a huge entertainment event called Rock The Dock on the island every August. 

However, the proposals have been stunted once again after latest blueprints submitted were turned down by Colchester Council planning bosses.

Mr Moffat first submitted an application for a temporary food and drink festival on the land last July but council bosses ruled against it, advising a full planning application should be made.

Area - the festival would be held at the shipyard in Coast Road (Image: Newsquest)

Fresh plans were put through earlier this year but were later withdrawn and replaced with a new application seeking a temporary change of use of the site for occasional events.

The site earmarked for a potential festival is currently used as a boatyard and has the approval of dual use as a car park during the summer months when most of the boats are offshore.

Plans say the site has “good access” from two points in Coast Road.

For about 40 years, the annual Stocks Funfair has been held on the site for seven days in before the contract was not renewed in 2024.

Planning documents say it is unknown at the time of application if it will be renewed, meaning the Rock The Dock event would be the only event to be held on this site.

A music festival, Anchorage, was also held on the site successfully in 2017 and 2018, with these also treated as temporary land use.

Picturesque - the festival was proposed for West Mersea (Image: Newsquest)

Held across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Rock The Dock would boast live music, a fully licensed bar and street food vendors.

Proposals also reveal there would be temporary toilets brought in for public use, multiple bins brought in for refuse, security during the event and overnight security when the site is closed.

Plans said the festival is an “opportunity to showcase Mersea Island to a wider public” while boosting employment and economy in the area.

Colchester Council has once again rejected the plans, saying that despite the potential economic benefits, the proposal raises "serious concerns relating to an associated increase in the noise and disturbance".

The council also said there are "significant concerns in terms of potential hazardous parking", adding how the proposal would result in an "unsafe environment in terms of highway safety and efficiency".

The organisers have been contacted for comment.