Council red tape is holding up a £400,000 project to restore historic Old Leigh back to its former glory.
Planning permission has already gone through to rebuild the 16th Century Juniper Cottages, which once stood in the High Street of Old Leigh, and it was hoped building could start last month.
Glum - Boatyard restaurant owner John Cross at the site in Old Leigh where he wants to rebuild a set of 16th cottages. "I want to get this project started so Old Leigh can look as beautiful as it did 200 years ago", says the businessman Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
John Cross, who owns the Boatyard Restaurant, which is next to the site of the cottages and who is behind the project, said he was becoming increasingly frustrated with the wait.
He said: "We have designed every aspect down to the last joint and have enlisted traditional craftsmen who are all just waiting for the green light to get on with it.
"We are being held up, however, while we wait for the council to dot the i's and cross the t's and they are taking a long time over it despite our attempts to hurry them along."
The original cottages dated back to the 16th century and remained for hundreds of years, but were bulldozed by contractors employed by Southend Council in 1952.
Now Mr Cross intends to resurrect them by building them with authentic materials and traditional building techniques.
The building project is planned to take six to nine months to complete once it gets under way.
Peter Wexham, Lib Dem councillor for Leigh ward, said: "This has been dragging on for ages and I feel very sorry for Mr Cross because he has tried very hard to meet every objective and get this important project for Old Leigh done."
A Southend Council spokesman said: "Mr Cross submitted plans for building regulation approval late in February this year. The application was checked and a request was made for amendments to the plans. A letter was sent on April 4 to Mr Cross's agent, outlining the exact requirements, but we have yet to receive a response.
"The current situation remains in the hands of Mr Cross's architects and once the amendments to the plans have been made, the application will be approved."
Published Monday, May 19, 2003
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