COLCHESTER’S MP has branded a council “arrogant” after it decided to change the town’s strapline without asking residents’ views.

Will Quince has launched a scathing attack on Colchester Council for its plans to change the town’s strapline from Britain’s Oldest Recorded Town to Britain’s First City.

In an explosive Twitter post Mr Quince, who has represented the town in parliament since 2015, labelled the authority “Britain’s Most Arrogant Council” in response to news of the rebrand.

Speaking to The Gazette he said: “For decades we have had the strapline of Britain’s Oldest Recorded Town.”

“Everyone knows it and we are rightly proud of it.

“For the council to decide to change it without consultation and without asking residents and business their views is hugely arrogant.

“Residents are being glossed over and it is typical of the approach of this council to do it.”

Mr Quince said he had seen various polls online supporting his views, including on The Gazette, where 52 per cent of residents voted in favour of the existing tagline.

“From what I have seen, the public is well in favour of the old strapline,” he said.

“The council needs to pause on this, consult with the public and local people and find out what they think.”

READ MORE: Colchester's new Britain's First City slogan sparks debate

Colchester Council business and culture boss Tim Young hit back at Mr Quince and said the authority was not looking to change its decision.

He added: “We consulted historians and the heritage task and finish group.

“We are quite happy with it and we are very happy that the debate is happening and people are engaging.

“Will should stick to his parliamentary duties and not interfere with the business of the council.”

READ MORE: Colchester to be rebranded Britain's First City 

Historian Andrew Phillips said the oldest recorded town phrase was used to describe Colchester as far back at the 1890s.

In the 1930s it became known as Colchester’s unique selling point and began appearing on signs in the 1970s.

He said: “I have favoured the first city line for a long time.

“Never mind oldest recorded town, I always thought we should be saying first town or first city as it is true.

“The old slogan came into existence by accident and wasn’t really planned to be a strapline but it has been hanging around ever since.”