VETERAN councillor and former leader of Colchester Council Anne Turrell has seen more than her fair share of change in the town during her two decades in politics.

After deciding to step down from her County Hall seat this year, she is looking forward to becoming an outside observer as the town continues to grow.

Anne’s first foray into politics was in 1999 when she was elected to Myland Parish Council, now Myland Community Council, the first new parish council set up for 100 years.

In 2002, she was first elected to Colchester Council to represent her home ward of Mile End for the Lib Dems.

Six years later she was made leader of the authority during the start of its new ruling coalition, between the Lib Dems and Labour.

She made history as the first female leader of Colchester Council - and to this day remains the only woman to hold the borough’s top job.

She has also served as Essex County Council member for Mile End and Highwoods since 2005.

During her time in politics she has overseen huge change across Colchester, including many projects in her home ward.

Her mark on the town can be seen in things such as Queen Boudica Primary School, Junction 28 of the A12 and Colchester Park and Ride.

Anne, 70, said: “I have been on Essex County Council for 16 years and although I have seen lots of changes and got lots done, I feel it is time someone else had a go.

“When I became a county councillor, I wanted to secure secondary school, a primary school and the park and ride and each are now there or on their way.

“It will be nice to sit back and watch others carry on with the job.

“But I am still a Lib Dem, I was a member of the party before I became a councillor and I will still be a member.

“I will still be watching what goes on with both councils.”

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During her tenure, Anne helped secure numerous road crossings, new footpaths, such as the one linking Boxted Road with Colchester United’s stadium, as well as protecting green spaces via the Fields In Trust.

Her conversations with the developer of the new Chesterwell estate in Mile End helped secure the planned new schools for the area, and therefore limit the number of homes on site.

The Northern Gateway project, now beginning to take shape, started off during her time as council leader.

Gazette: The £29 million Northern Gateway Sports Park opened last monthThe £29 million Northern Gateway Sports Park opened last month

She stepped down as leader of Colchester Council in 2014, before leaving the authority all together the following year.

Six years at the helm had taken its toll.

Anne said: “We took over from the Tories in 2008 and it was myself as leader and Martin Hunt as deputy leader, who has now sadly passed away. Tim Young was Labour Group leader and we did lots of good work at the time together as a coalition.

“I just thought I had to stop. I was going to kill myself if I kept going at that pace.

“You can easily do 70 or 80 hours a week, and I was.”

Over the years she has seen enormous change across the borough, particularly near her home in Mile End, which has probably grown faster than any other part of Colchester.

She said: “Mile End is double the size now as to when I started.

“It was a little village on the edge of Colchester when I first joined. It has been built up massively.

“Most of the land where the new homes have been built was owned by the NHS.

“People often think it is the fault of the council when they see a planning application being approved, but things start before that with the land allocation.

“The same thing which happened in Mile End is now with Middlewick where the MoD is selling the land.”

Anne was replaced as the Lib Dem candidate at this month’s election by David King, Colchester Council’s former business boss, who narrowly beat his Conservative rival David Linghorn-Baker.

She is very positive about David taking over the reigns and says he will be a positive influence for the area.

Anne said: “David will be brilliant. I would not have stood down if I did not think there was someone there ready to replace me. Mile End is where I live and it is my home.”

She added: “But I will definitely be going on more holidays now.”