A Maldon boat-builder has called for open discussion about the future of a multi-million pound barrage across the River Blackwater.

Arthur Keeble, director of Downs Road Boatyard, claimed his representatives and other concerned river users were "hustled out" of a meeting of Maldon District Council's planning, highways and environment services committee last week when a decision was taken to exclude press and public.

Last night (Thursday) councillors were expected to reach a final decision on the committee's recommendation that the scheme - estimated to cost up to £4.1 million - be dropped.

Committee members felt the scheme, which is designed to control water levels within Maldon harbour, could impose "an alien feature on the estuary."

A report issued after the meeting stated: "While the concept of a tidal barrage may appear attractive, there were concerns that it would impact in the very character of Maldon that it was intended to enhance.

"Its location is extremely sensitive and the engineering structures required would impose an alien feature in the estuary."

Mr Keeble, whose boatyard has served the river for over half a century, said: "We need to know more about this. A complete barrage would turn the river into a lake and the water would become fresh instead of salt.

"We all need to know more about this and who would be paying for it.

"We just haven't been consulted and we are the people who could begin to give answers to questions.

"The port is silting up and has become dramatically worse in the past few years.

"We, who are most concerned in the river, want to know what's going on. There are people here who have lived and worked on the riverfront all their lives but they aren't being listened to because people don't want to hear the truth."

The barrage, which would have stretched for 500 metres from the former Maldon tip to Herring Point, was designed to enhance the local economy, especially commercial and leisure activities at Maldon, by creating constant high water levels within the harbour.

Barry Norrington, planning policy team leader at Maldon District Council, said: "The report contained sensitive information, so the decision was taken to exclude press and public.

"Whether a public meeting will be held on this subject is for the council to discuss at a later date. However, if the recommendations to the planning, highways and environment services committee are accepted by members, then the idea of the barrage will be dropped."

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