HEARINGS into Maldon’s delayed Local Development Plan will begin in December.

In May Simon Berkeley, who was appointed as inspector in April, set out a timetable for when hearings should restart.

Previous inspector David Vickery stopped examination of the plan last May due to the lack of traveller sites provided.

The decision was overturned in March after Maldon District Council had the decision called in to the Government.

Since then, the council has had to complete a sustainability appraisal and answer “vital” questions on matters including travellers, highways and school capacity.

Last week the council began a six-week consultation into modifications to the plan.

Mr Berkeley has now said hearings into the long-delayed plan can finish in the New Year.

He told the council: “I will aim to achieve this timeframe and I ask the council to do the same.

“It is likely that this would entail further hearing sessions after the Christmas break during the week commencing January 2.”

In a letter director of Planning and Regulatory Services at Maldon District Council, Nick Fenwick, said work on the sustainability appraisal had taken a “considerable amount of work” which had led to a delay.

The consultation runs until Thursday, October 27.

Copies of the documents are available at maldon.gov.uk or from the council offices on Princes Road, Maldon.

E-mail comments to policy@mal- don.gov.uk or posted to Strategic Planning Man- ager, Maldon District Council, Princes Road, Maldon, CM9 5DL

Mr Berkeley has also criticised the council for failing to keep him in the loop after initially hoping to start hearings in the summer.

In July he was forced to revise this after Maldon District Council gave him ‘no indication’ of when they could begin.

In a letter sent to the council this month he branded the situation as “wholly unsatisfactory”.

He said: “I am acutely conscious that this will be frustrating to those with an interest in the plan.

“Local residents and other participants in the examination are presently in the dark about when matters might progress, particularly in terms of when hearings may take place.”

The council said it has had to hire consultants to carry out requested work.