Sheds in a car yard described as a "shanty town" have been defended by their car dealer owner.

Colin James-Dale has opened a second-hand dealership near the A120 at Bathside Bay near Harwich but councillors have said it makes the undeveloped area look scruffy.

Now Mr James-Dale has hit back and said the site is ideal for a car sale centre he describes as "affordable and popular".

A meeting of the Harwich Town Council last week discussed the retrospective application made by Mr James-Dale for a change of use for the Sea Containers-owned land.

At the meeting Andy Morrison said the car sales yard looked like "nothing more than a shanty town," and Garry Calver said it was "inappropriate use of the land."

But Mr James-Dale said: "We have had 500 visitors so far and sold 71 cars in just a few weeks. The people of Harwich know here is a cheap place to buy cars. If they think this is inappropriate use of the land I would like to see what is appropriate.

"There are no neighbours, the owners of the land are happy for me to be there and I am sorting out the sheds and having them creosoted, what is the problem?"

The retrospective application has been recommended for refusal by Harwich Town Council but Tendring Council will have the final say.

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