People power scored a huge victory as hundreds watched controversial plans for a drug and alcohol rehab centre in the heart of a village rejected.
Police were present at the meeting of Rochford District Council's planning committee in Rayleigh last night as councillors debated the proposals for Ashingdon Hall, in Church Road, Ashingdon.
Shaun Scrutton, head of planning, said police had been invited to attend to keep order and for "health and safety reasons" as protesters packed into the meeting, while others listened to proceedings outside on a live audio feed.
Council officers, who recommended the plans for approval, reported the council had received 825 letters and a petition with more than 1,000 signatures in opposition to the plans.
The packed audience listened attentively as councillors spent an hour voicing their opinions one by one, with not a single member speaking in support of the plans.
Tracy Capon, (Con, Ashingdon) reminded the committee the centre was within two miles of ten schools, backed on to a nursery, and was just yards from a pre-school.
She said: "These plans go against everything the council stands for and I will be voting to reject them."
When the vote was taken, a near unanimous decision was taken to reject the plans, a move which was met with cheers and applause from protesters inside and outside the council chamber.
After the meeting Roger Spink, chairman of Ashingdon Parish Council, said: "Sanity has prevailed."
Published Wednesday July 28, 2004
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