A homeowner is angry that residents are being forced to live with noise and disturbance from a nearby car park when he feels the scheme should never have been allowed in the first place.

John Wright, of Woodberry Way, Walton, cannot understand why planners allowed it to be built just a matter of feet away from properties when it threw out a similar application in nearby Frinton.

Plans were first put before Tendring Council to develop Great Eastern Court, which used to be Walton-on-the-Naze railway station in 2002 and despite objections it was passed.

The plans included a car park.

Mr Wright said: "It is within 18-20ft of adjoining properties, namely two blocks of maisonettes in Woodberry Way whose occupants suffer exhaust emissions, noise and disturbance, plus a fire risk 24 hours a day."

He said there was also a problem with damage caused to a boundary fence which Mr Wright said Tendring Council failed to insist was re-installed when the developers removed it.

Mike Page, public relations manager for Tendring Council, said: "Planning decisions are open to all kinds of interpretation. However, I think a little bit too much water has passed under the bridge to make a fair comparison in this case."

Published Monday August 16, 2004

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