Castle Point's mayor has launched a fresh crusade to transform a treasured part of Hadleigh into a conservation area.

Charles Smith vowed to protect the area where historic St James the Less church sits in the middle of a busy one-way system along London Road.

He already claims to have received cross-party support for the scheme and hopes plans to give the area special status will soon feature on a council agenda.

A similar bid was launched several months ago - but was too late to prevent planning permission for a McDonald's restaurant opposite the 12th century church.

Mr Smith says the following buildings, among others, are of architectural interest:

St James the Less church

the Castle and Crown pubs

a row of 19th century shops

several old cottages

Published Wednesday October 23, 2002

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