A referendum is to be staged in Harwich over the controversial Bathside Bay port plans.
More than 50 protesters packed out a special meeting of Harwich Town Council at the Guild Hall on Thursday night.
In the end, councillors deferred a decision over the scheme for a deep water container terminal.
Members on the planning committee decided they did not have enough information on the project for Hutchison Ports to make a judgement and they are in favour of a town referendum on the subject.
It is now expected that protesters will call for one in the next few weeks.
Garry Calver, a town councillor, said he believed it was the best way forward.
"It will give everyone the chance to have their say on the issue and it is the fairest thing that can happen," he said.
Tendring Council has been given twice the normal length of time 16 weeks to make its decision over the plans because of the scale of the scheme.
Harwich town councillors are being asked to give their views as part of the planning process.
Published Monday, May 19, 2003
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