A RETAIL war has been declared by town centre shops against the proposed Tollgate retail development.

A campaign, first launched in 2013 to combat traffic problems, has been re-launched to fight rival shops planned for west Colchester.

It is being led by the Colchester Retail Business Association.

Chairman Michelle Reynolds said: “The proposed development at Tollgate would destroy the town centre and so many businesses located there.

“The expert advice we’ve seen also shows it’s utterly contrary to local and national planning policy.

“On these points alone local councillors should refuse the planning application.

“The response from local people has been astonishing.

“People are genuinely frightened about local shops closing.

“We’re urging people to support us or lose us.

“I would encourage anyone who uses the town centre to write to Colchester Council and object to the Tollgate application before it is considered by the planning committee.

“Objections to the application, due to be considered by the committee in the coming weeks, have already been submitted by the Culver Square Shopping Centre, Lion Walk and Red Lion Yard, and Williams and Griffin – now Fenwick.”

The Tollgate Partnership has submitted an application for a shopping and leisure village.

It will include a cinema, shops and restaurants on 20 acres of land – including the former Sainsbury’s site.

It is due to go before Colchester Council’s planning committee later this year.

If approved it is planned to open in 2018.

A consultation, carried out by the partnership, claimed 569 people took part and 86 per cent supported the development.

Daniel Watts, director of the partnership, claimed more retail space is needed in Colchester and Tollgate is an ideal location.

He also said an estimated £16.9million, currently spent in Braintree, Ipswich and Chelmsford, could instead come to Colchester.

The partnership dispute claims it would take trade from the centre and state it is not about the town versus Tollgate, but giving people choice.

The development could create hundreds of jobs however Corba claim many would be lost from the centre.

Included in the proposal is a 1,300- seater cinema, more than 1,000 square metres of cafe and restaurant space, 7,000 square metres of retail space and a five level 1,500 space car park