A councillor has been banned from a hotel after he opposed a planning application.

Harwich town councillor Garry Calver hit out at plans to alter the Tower Hotel in Dovercourt last year.

When he went to a recent private lunch party, he was met by hotel owner Eddie Clifton and told to leave.

A statement by Mr Calver was read to Harwich Town Council's planning committee.

It said: "On entering the bar I was immediately confronted by the owner. He told me he vowed that I would never set foot in his establishment again because of quotes regarding a planning application for the Tower Hotel.

"I was extremely annoyed by his behaviour and asked my host to arrange for me to leave the building immediately."

The statement said his host asked him to discuss the matter with Mr Clifton, which he did. "He then asked me to leave and I advised him that, as a result of his behaviour, I had already decided to do so," the statement added.

Councillors agreed to ask Tendring Council's monitoring officer for advice.

They were concerned that if any future application by the Tower was rejected, the public may think councillors were against the hotel and if they were in favour the perception may be they were frightened of being barred.

Published Thursday, January 9, 2003

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