The residents of Colchester’s Smythies Avenue and Rosebery Avenue should be congratulated.

They have successfully opposed an application to build a house on a garden at the junction of those two roads.

Colchester Council’s officers proposed the application should be approved, but at the council planning committee meeting last week, the residents clearly expressed their concerns.

The committee was swayed and voted unanimously to refuse the application on the grounds the development would be overbearing, out of character and would provide a substandard amenity.

This is a fantastic success for people power and demonstrates how important it is to make your views heard.

I hope it will also set a precedent and the council will not be minded in future to approve new developments on back gardens or valuable green spaces in town.

Peter Lynn
Green Party prospective
council candidate
for Castle ward
North Hill
Colchester