MILLION pound plans to build a bridge between Wivenhoe and Rowhedge appear to be dead in the water after councillors voted almost unanimously against the plans.

Support for the project had been signalled by East Donyland Parish Council before Christmas but members of Wivenhoe Town Council have given the project an emphatic “no”.

During a vote on whether to support the principle of the footbridge, nine members of the council voted against with one abstention.

It means the project, which would have been headed by Essex County Council deputy leader Kevin Bentley, is now unlikely to go ahead despite the council boss offering to apply for £15,000 to fund a feasibility study.

Gazette: GV from Wivenhoe to Rowhedge.14/1/2017.

View - Wivenhoe from across the water, at Rowhedge 

Mr Bentley said: “At this stage I have suggested the chairs of East Donyland Parish Council and Wivenhoe Town Council meet with both myself and Labour representative for Wivenhoe Julie Young to discuss where we go with this.

“I know Wivenhoe Town Council has voted on the principle of it and it was quite unanimous but I have received emails and indeed messages on social media which tell me people are in Wivenhoe are in favour of it.

“At this stage, what we are talking about is a feasibility study and nothing more.

Gazette: Kevin Bentley, ECC

Council boss - Kevin Bentley

“Completing a feasibility study does not mean: ‘We are going to build a bridge.’

“It means we will look at it and if, down the line, the decision is not to go ahead with it, at least there will be work done on it if it comes up again in the future.”

Mike Lilley, Colchester councillor for old Heath and the Hythe, questioned why Wivenhoe town councillors are so strongly against the plans.

He said: “You would have thought they would at least look at it and see how it could benefit their pubs and restaurants. There are facilities, groups and clubs on both sides which I believe should be shared.”

Rowhedge residents backed the plan in a survey which fed into the village plan last year. Mr Lilley added: “The bridge would actually cut congestion because commuters from Rowhedge could catch the train from Wivenhoe rather than having to drive to Colchester, park and get the train.

“Why not at least explore the feasibility of it?”

Wivenhoe town councillor Asa Aldis said the strong opposition is out of fear of “planning creep”.

The former mayor said: “We are under attack on one side from the mega city [a planned garden village] and we are under attack from this side as well.

“We at least have a say on this one and we have no choice but to say ‘no’.”

He added: “It is about the precedent it will set.

“What we are fearful of is it will start a precedent, leading from it being a footbridge to a road bridge - we are fearful of the planning creep.

“If the mega city wasn’t happening, I believe it is something we may have taken a more relaxed view on it.”

Mr Aldis also asked: “If the money is there for a million pound bridge, why not invest that in the ferry service?”