COLCHESTER Council bosses are set to sit down with campaign groups which have spent years highlighting problems with controversial plans to build two new towns either side of Colchester.

The startling move have been suggested by new Colchester Council boss Mark Cory, who also admitted the authority has not listened enough to “expert criticism” from groups such as the Campaign Against Urban Sprawl in Essex.

Mr Cory made the offer after planning inspector Roger Clews wrote to Colchester, Braintree and Tendring councils criticising parts of the proposals.

He focused on sustainability and viability issues, employment opportunities and infrastructure - concerns which have long been lodged by groups such as Cause.

Mr Cory said: “There is no secret we haven’t got this quite right yet and, as I’ve said before, my greater mission is to make sure we are open.

“And, in that vein, I am going to invite Cause in to work with us on the plan.

“They have shown expert some valid criticisms of the plans and some of that will be really useful in bringing forward the right solutions.”

Mr Cory also said he would invite eastern Colchester campaign group, Hands off Wivenhoe to the table.

The senior Lib Dem added: “We need to listen to other opinions in order to make this work.

“We need to find a solution which works locally, directed by sensible local ideas. We have got a chance to make right some of the wrongs which have happened so far and one way to do that is to listen better.

“We have to listen to people who have ideas which work - just because they have been in opposition to our plans up until now does not mean the ideas are not worth considering. “

Mr Cory added: “I do still believe it is central Government policy which is putting so much pressure on us to make room for these homes.

“There is far too much pressure on the south east, in areas where the infrastructure just isn’t there.

“In the criticism from the inspector, one of the things he points out is that we have to get the transport aspects right.

“He talks about strategic assessment and he talks about West Tey in relation to Marks Tey train station.

“In reality, the decisions on the A12 and A120 needed to come quicker - he made his points without knowing what what was going to happen on those roads.

“That said, just building roads are a 20th century solution to a 21st century problem.”

Tim Young, deputy leader of Colchester Council, said: “This is something I very much support. The Labour group actually met with representatives of Cause in the run up to the election this year.

“I always believe it is better to talk even if you are not in agreement.”

He added: “What I would say is Cause has got to come up with where homes should go, because the 920-per year figure is not going to go away. But I do hope we will find an acceptable and satisfactory way forward.”

Before Mr Cory’s offer, Cause had called for more communication from the councils and lamented £4 million of taxpayers’ money having been “wasted” on the garden communities project.

In response to the new council leader’s offer, Rosie Pearson, secretary of Cause, said: “We can cautiously see there seems to be a change in the way things are going to be done.

“Mark has expressed a want to meet with us and other experts such as the cycling campaign and public transport groups.

“He intends to get people together because I think he realises the whole plan has got to be revisited. He accepts local people must be listened to."

Mrs Pearson also cited a need to involve campaigners opposed to development at both Salary Brook and Middlewick Ranges in the talks.

She added: “This is a change for us; up until now, the relationship has been terrible.

“We turn up for Have Your Say sessions, respond to consultations with 90-page documents with in-depth analysis but were never given this invitation.

“Colchester Conservatives have fought our corner for us but we can count on both hands the number of people who have been on our side. In Colchester, we must press ‘reset’ and we hope both Braintree and Tendring councils do the same.”