A PETITION has been set up calling for Colchester Council to rule out using legal powers to lift a restrictive covenant over the town’s so called Cultural Quarter.

More than 350 people have so far signed Fabian Green’s petition, which is asking the authority to rule out using powers to force Essex County Council to release the covenant it holds on the old bus station, off Queen Street.

It calls the covenant the “last line of defence against the unpopular proposals” after Colchester Council signed a 250-year lease agreement for a one-off payment of £980,881 if planning was approved at any stage.

The plans drew unprecedented criticism from residents, sparking protests, petitions and drawing more than 800 objections but were approved after an appeal.

Colchester Council’s cabinet received an update on “informal negotiations” with landowners at a meeting, with documents stating the council could seek to appropriate the land for planning purposes if negotiations were unsuccessful.

Lewis Barber, deputy leader of Colchester Conservatives, called for the council’s leadership to rule out using legal powers at the meeting.

Afterwards he said: “We wanted clarity on the council’s intentions and their failure to guarantee they will not use the legal powers only increases suspicions.

“We have long argued for a community-led approach where residents and experts take control of the process through neighbourhood planning to build something we can all be proud of.”

But the council’s business boss David King told the meeting the authority was “not seeking to force the hand of the county council”.

He said: “We have had in the past conversations with Essex County Council and we will have them again.

“There is nothing in the approach we have taken which is about seeking to force the hand of the county council.

“We have an understanding and an agreement which has been aired about the lifting of the covenant.

“The approach has been to ask them to the terms we have agreed many moons ago.

“We are not taking legal action against the county council and this has not been discussed.

“The suggestion we want to use legal powers against them is not true.”

Visit bit.ly/3cHKWR8 to view or sign the petition.