THE daughter of a man who drowned in Mistley has criticised the latest attempts to remove a fence on the quay.

Jackie Lefter, 65, believes attempts by Tendring Council to tighten up planning rules are wrong.

Her dad, Jack Branch, drowned at Mistley Quay in 1997, aged 72.

Quay owners Trent Wharfage put up the fence in 2008, despite protests from villagers and users of the quay.

Mrs Lefter, from Myland, Colchester, said: “It is private property.How would protesters like it if they were told to take down a fence in their garden?

“If there had been a fence, he wouldn’t have fallen in the river that night.

“If he had slipped over, then he wouldn’t have slipped in. The arrogance of these people is breathtaking.”

Tendring Council is carrying out a consultation on whether to make the ruling, known as an Article 4 Direction, permanent. The ruling would stop Trent Wharfage from repairing or replacing the fence if it is damaged.

Simon Bullimore, of campaign group Free the Quay, defended his group’s attempts to get the fence changed, adding: “We are in favour of a barrier, but it must be the right sort of height.

“You can’t stop people falling and jumping into rivers, but you can put up a barrier in an acceptable form.”

Trent Wharfage has rarely spoken out over the issue. Mrs Lefter believes it is time for the company’s bosses to speak out.

Residents and sailors have protested against the two-metre fence since it was put up claiming it ruins the beautiful views across the Stour.

Public events to highlight the cause have included a boat rally and tying yellow ribbons to the fence, spelling out the campaign group’s name, Free the Quay.

Despite members of the public using the quayside to arrive by boat for years, it is privately owned and is not a public right of way.

But campaigners have been fighting to get the area designated as a village green, which they hope would mean the controversial fence would have to be taken down.