A row over a car park in Witham could delay plans to redevelop a shopping precinct.

The managing director of the Newlands precinct, Roger Southam, said the legal wrangle over who owns it could seriously delay development plans for the site unless the position is quickly resolved.

He said the use of the Newland Street free car park for shoppers was a key part of their plans for the precinct.

The argument over who owns it has been raging since the beginning of February when a notice to quit the car park was served on Braintree Council by Neighbourhood Retail Partnership Ltd, the company planning to redevelop Newlands precinct.

Braintree Council then served a High Court writ on the company claiming it was legally entitled to the land, citing an agreement made in 1967 between the previous owners of the land and Witham Urban District Council.

Mr Southam said: "We are trying to do the right thing by working with the council to improve the town by improving the facilities in the town. It is the customers who are losing out but we cannot do anything until this problem has been resolved.

"We have arranged a meeting with the council which will hopefully sought things out."

Plans to revamp the precinct include a new food store, restaurant and leisure facilities.

Witham town and Braintree district councillor Phil Barlow said: "It is my view that it is far better to get an agreement through discussion rather than legal confrontation. Really what we need to be talking about is what is in the best interest for the people of Witham."

Chris Trim, public relations manager for Braintree Council, confirmed that a meeting had been scheduled next week to discuss the situation. But he believed it would be some time before the matter was resolved.

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