STUDENT protesters have vowed to continue to demonstrate in Colchester, despite concerns from town leaders their actions are causing considerable disorder and disruption.

After a series of protests in the town, which sparked arrests and road closures, the crime and disorder committee met to review how future events could be handled better.

However, members admitted they were powerless to stop protesters using their right to demonstrate.

The protests were organised by college and university students on November 24 and 30 and December 6, in opposition to education cuts.

They involved between 300 to 700 protesters, included two arrests and saw the doors to the town hall closed by police amid fears the building would be invaded.

Committee deputy chairman, Dennis Willetts, said: “It is a fundamental right of people to protest peacefully. However, we also have the right to go about our business in the town without fear and without being hampered by disorder.

“Businesses were affected by these events, as well as members of the public, who were deterred from coming into the town.

“Pensioners were stuck for hours waiting for buses back to rural areas as a result.”

Mr Willetts suggested: “Perhaps going to Castle Park for a rally, if that kind of thing can be organised, would be tolerated.”

He added: “Even the Scouts have not been able to do their St George’s Day march in the High Street because a closure order was not approved by this council, yet groups of demonstrators have been allowed to disrupt the town.”

Essex University student, Nathan Bolton, said more events were planned for Colchester town centre, including a protest organised by the Colchester Against the Cuts Campaign group on March 3.

He said: “We will continue to take to the streets and protest.

“We don’t want to be herded into Castle Park. We want to exercise our democratic right to protest outside our town hall.”

Mr Willetts called for a “review” of the way the protests were dealt with.

However, other councillors, including Kim Naish, accused the committee of acting illegally by singling out student protesters and therefore discriminating against them.

Mr Naish added: “We are talking about the disruption of these protests when in actual fact only two people were arrested.

“Compare this to the chaos in the town centre on a Friday and Saturday night when the police can deal with up to 20 arrests a night.”

The committee decided to consult bus companies to see what could be done to limit disruption to their services in the event of another protest.