A FORMER senior Lib Dem councillor has called for the controversial Tollgate Village plans to go ahead, arguing its economic benefits far outweigh any reason to block the £70million scheme.

Jon Manning, who voted to approve the proposals while he was chairman of Colchester Council’s planning committee, also called on the council to be more “flexible” when it comes to controversial planning decisions.

Mr Manning used his casting vote to approve the plans in February last year but a final decision was deferred until the next meeting.

But the chairman - along with his deputy chairman, Lib Dem Jessica Scott-Boutell, who also voted for the plans - were not able to attend the second hearing, which saw the plans officially refused.

One of the reasons for refusal was the loss of employment land.

In his submission to the Tollgate Village appeal inspector, Mr Manning, who lost his Wivenhoe seat in May, said: “At the time I felt that the officers made the correct decision according to the policy within our local plan but in my opinion the economic benefit to the borough outweighed the need for employment land.

“I based my consideration by calculating the number of potential jobs by the minimum wage for Tollgate Village versus the potential employment that would be deemed plausible on the site.

“The site would not lend itself to heavy industry or to any business using large lorries due to its proximity to many children’s favourite burger chain.

“Therefore, in my opinion the need for this as employment land was out of date.”

He added: “As with many aspects of law planning needs flexibility and the fact that this had formerly been a retail site in my opinion was evidence of its sustainability.”

Mr Manning also accused council planning officers of hypocrisy, adding: “This idea of there being enough employment land in the borough was supported by officers when a change of use was granted on the B&Q site on the other side of town a couple of weeks later.”

“I believe it was also an opinion supported by the inspector at the recent planning appeal for Stane Park opposite the current site.”

The former councillor added: “The clientele for each of the areas is distinct and, like myself, most people will chose where to shop depending upon that day needs.

“I, therefore, feel the impact on the town centre of Tollgate Village would be far less than the internet will be.”

But speaking yesterday, Colchester Council leader Paul Smith warned: “Some of the smaller retailers in the town centre are second, third or fourth generation businesses.

“Those are businesses which would be severely affected [by Tollgate Village].

“They are dependent on footfall that is generated by large retailers.

“Large out of town developments would not be of interest to a smaller retailer.”

Mr Smith told the appeal 24,000 people leave Colchester each day to go to work while 23,000 come into the borough for work, with 6,000 people travelling from Tendring.

He added: “A great number of those jobs are in the retail sector.

“Stanway would be a very difficult location for someone from Tendring who is relying on public transport, as many people do, to get to.”

Mr Smith added: “There has been a lot said about public opinion.

“Colchester had all-up elections last year and it was fair to say the opposition made a considerable play on Tollgate Village. Even in Stanway, the vote was very split.”