Following my attendance at the last meeting of the Cabinet of Colchester Council, where as a result of the previous week’s unanimous decision by the planning committee to refuse by ten votes to nil the appalling application for Lego-style blocks of student flats on the site of the former Queen Street bus station, I am concerned “corporate” Colchester Council is not necessarily going to give up on the proposal.

My advice to the Cabinet was that it should now abandon the scheme, but I was told the council had “contractual obligations” to the would-be developer.

I challenged as to what this meant. Had the council entered into a legally binding agreement?

So what is the position? What is going on? Despite the unanimous refusal by the planning committee, is the “corporate” Council still in discussions with the property speculators whose only interest in Colchester is what they can screw out of the development?

All 51 of Colchester Council’s councillors have never voted on whether they want the former bus station to be developed in this way.

It has only been the eight members of the Cabinet who want this – but ten councillors on the planning committee have unanimously rejected the application.

What happens if the applicants take this matter to appeal before a Government-appointed Inspector?

Will the council field a team who will robustly defend the decision of the planning committee?

As one of the five people who spoke at the planning committee, part of a co-ordinated presentation under the umbrella of the Colchester Civic Society, should an appeal be lodged then I give notice that a crowdfunding request will be launched to raise funds so we can field our own professional planning expert.

In the meantime, perhaps someone within “corporate” Colchester Council can state whether they are going to back the unanimous decision of the planning committee.

If not, what has happened to democratic control and accountability?

Sir Bob Russell

Catchpool Road, Colchester