A Colchester club's dream of creating the region's best model car racetrack have been dashed.

Colchester Model Car Club, which has about 100 members, wanted to build a £20,000 asphalt track for model cars on land off Lodge Lane, Langham, for regional, national and even international race events.

But the plans have been refused by Colchester Council's planning committee because of the impact it would have on the countryside.

Christopher Garnett (Con, Boxted and Langham) said he feared traffic congestion along the privately-owned Lodge Lane, because it is too narrow.

Patricia Sanderson (Con, East Donyland) said: "If you had this sort of activity going on next to a bridleway it is just the sort of thing that makes a bridleway unrideable with horses."

Ray Gamble (Lib Dem, St John's) said: "I think the club is a victim of its own success and it seems a shame.

"Club members have made a really good job of making it a really good club and they will have to try to find somewhere else."

Published Monday December 17, 2001