A COUNCILLOR branded Maldon District Council ‘rude’ after he was banned from speaking at the planning meeting.

Councillor Peter Banks, of West Mersea Town Council, attended the meeting expecting to be able to speak.

When he arrived, he was told he wouldn’t be able to present his views on the application to councillors.

He said: “I was absolutely under the impression that I would be allowed to speak. We had it in writing and verbally confirmed to us. At no time were we told we would not be able to until we turned up.

“We received a letter as a council with details about how we could speak at the meeting. I phones up ahead of the meeting to check on the parking situation and asked again whether I could speak for West Mersea and was told yes.

“Maldon works in a very different way to Colchester Borough Council. I do not think they would have been so rude and unreasonable. I think they would have shown some discretion.”

Campaign group BANNG (Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group) were also angered by the council after their objections were not included in the report.

A spokesman said: “BANNG considers this to be a serious breach of protocol.

“The BANNG objections were provided in good faith and were submitted in accordance with the one working day’s extension granted by the planning officer.

“All of this could be construed as a denial of democratic debate. It is certainly a serious breach of protocol. Incompetence in relation to such a serious issue should not occur.”

A council spokesman said allowing Mr Banks to speak would have set a precedent for other applications.

On BANNG’s complaints, they added: “Representations not included in the report were provided to members in an updated briefing in advance of the committee meeting.”