Plans for a village referendum over whether the Colchester village of Stanway should become a town have been scrapped.

Stanway Parish Council has cast out the plan by a vote of 11 to two.

The idea was put forward by parish councillor Ian McCord who claimed rapid housing and business development, including houses and restaurants at Tollgate, meant Stanway had outgrown its village status.

Holding a referendum in Stanway would cost between £500 and £1,000, the council were told.

Mr McCord said: "It is an expanding village, with up to 1,000 new homes due to come on sale. It is possible to buy a bicycle, fishing rod, goldfish, fireworks, Mercedes Benz, articulated lorry, cars, road sweeper, hire a digger, or purchase a snake in Stanway village.

"I think it must be possible to live all your life, have all your needs attended to without ever needing to leave Stanway.

"Homebase plan a new 100,000 sq ft superstore and the village Sainsburys is to add another 40,000 sg ft of space.

"Clearly therefore this is some village. As a town we would reassert our identity. I think our leisure facilities are lacking, villages don't warrant good leisure facilities, towns can make more of a case."

Christina Edwards, chairman of the council, said there would be no benefit in becoming a village.

"The parish council would have no more say than they do now, we would not gain more in terms of facilities because they are based in terms of populations," she said.

"We would have to pay for a referendum and I have not come across anyone who would support it."

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