A CAFE owner has defended a move to stop Tiptree’s jam-makers setting foot inside a historic neighbouring building.

Wilkin & Sons has been chosen by Colchester Council to take over Tymperleys, the 16th century building formerly used as a clock museum.

Since being selected in February, the firm has not been able to gain access to the listed building because the archway and passage leading to it is owned by the landlord, which owns the neighbouring Art Cafe.

James Weaver, who leases the cafe, said he had no problems with Wilkin & Sons. He said: “Our dispute is with Colchester Council because who in their right mind would allow another business to cross their land to open up next door in competition without a protest. This is not fundamentally about competition. We’ve been in business long enough to know competition can be a very good thing and we have confidence in our homemade brand.

“Colchester Council must have known it didn’t own the archway and probably assumed we would say nothing.”

The Land Registry was today set to hear an application by the council for a right of way through the archway. Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell has written to the local authority to offer his backing, pointing out visitors had been allowed to use the entrance for more than 20 years since it opened with Mr Mason’s Colchester clock collection in 1987.

He said: “Wilkin’s Tea Room at Tymperleys would dramatically increase the number of people coming to Trinity Street, and it would mean a boost for all existing businesses including the cafe of the person who has objected.

“It is a pointless exercise in which the only people who will benefit are the lawyers.”

Mr Weaver replied: “We are not so naive as to not realised we risk being portrayed as the bad guys in all of this, but who wouldn’t stand up for themselves?”