The owners of one of Colchester's best-loved landmarks have been given a boost in their efforts to turn it into a luxury home.

Councillors cleared the way last night for land at the base of the Jumbo water tower to be sold so it can be turned into a landscaped entrance for the scheme.

Members of Colchester Council's scrutiny and overview panel voted unanimously to uphold a decision to sell two patches of land at the bottom of the Grade II* listed landmark.

The areas are currently used for car parking and are owned by the council, but Jumbo's owners want to use them in their proposed development.

Nick Taylor, the council's former portfolio holder for resources, agreed the sale of the land on May 8.

The land was offered to Jumbo's owners for a sum believed to be in the region of £35,000.

But Martin Hunt, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Christchurch ward, had questioned the sale and the scrutiny panel was asked to review Mr Taylor's decision.

Chairman Christopher Arnold (Con, Fordham and Stour) said after the meeting that a unanimous decision had been reached to allow the sale to proceed as previously agreed.

A spokesman for Jumbo Colchester, which owns Jumbo, said: "We have taken this one step at a time and this is just one more step."

Published Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette