Residents fighting plans to set up a new restaurant in Harwich's conservation area have been thrown a lifeline.

Suffolk Life Annuities want to establish the business in Market Street and is proposing to replace three shops and flats with the restaurant and flats, making alterations to the listed building.

Tendring Council has received five letters objecting to the scheme and residents turned out to oppose the project last night.

David Underhill, who lives opposite the site, said that he would rather see them returned to residential use as they were before they became shops.

Mr Underhill said there were already traffic problems and parking difficulties in the area and customers to the restaurant would make that worse.

Tendring Council officers had recommended the scheme should be approved but councillors decided they should visit the property before coming to a decision.

Published Thursday, April 24, 2003

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