Clacton's future shopping needs have been disputed.

Developers behind a proposed multi-million pound country and retail park claimed the needs of the area's shoppers are not being catered for.

But Tendring Council maintains there is still enough provision for retail development within the town without eating up the countryside.

Nigel Hebden, the council's development control manager, told a planning inquiry yesterday a review of retail provision was ongoing.

And he described the developer's assessment of available retail sites as "a snapshot" and the claimed need as "overstated".

He said seven sites in the Clacton area had been identified in the Local Plan as having potential for development.

However, he said they were not all allocated for retail use in the planning blueprint.

Mr Hebden said he could not say whether a new retail park would stop shoppers travelling further afield to centres such as Colchester.

The inquiry, which is in its second week, follows an appeal by developers Britton Construction that Tendring Council failed to deal with the outline planning bid for the £30 million Brook Park scheme in time.

The mixed use development would include retail outlets, a petrol filling station, restaurant/pub and country park.

Controversial plans for a superstore, which were included in an earlier bid, have been ditched.

The site, which is mostly in agricultural use and is allocated as green wedge, lies between the B1441 London Road and the A 133 Little Clacton bypass.

Before the Local Plan inquiry, the council had got the site marked down for retail/leisure development itself but afterwards it was allocated as green wedge to form a clear development break between Clacton and other developments.

Mr Hebden reminded the inquiry that earlier the inspector at the local plan public inquiry "made it clear that he did not consider there was an overriding need for the proposed retail development".

The inquiry continues. The decision is due to be made later this year.

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