MP condemns Castle eyesore

12.00.00am GMT Thu 29th Nov 2007

MP Bob Russell inspecting the new lights at the Castle Park

Colchester Borough Council today stands accused of breaking strict planning regulations relating to historic sites be constructing a concrete structure within feet of the town's famous Norman Castle without permission.

What Town MP Bob Russell describes as a "tank trap concrete bunker", the Council has built a structure into the bank at the front of the Castle to accommodate floodlights.

But it failed to get the necessary permission from English Heritage, the organisation which oversees the protection of Ancient Monuments of which the Castle Park is one of the most important in the country.

Today Mr Russell - a former Mayor of Colchester and one-time Chairman of the Council Committee responsible for the town's cultural heritage - said that it was inexcusable that the Council had committed such a blunder by building an ugly construction just feet from the Castle.

"On the assumption that Councillors are still in charge, who in the Council Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the unauthorised work?" he asked.

Mr Russell said that the work was done some time ago, and throughout the summer season had been an eyesore in an otherwise well maintained Castle Park. The site is now covered in weeds and for security reasons is surrounded by a wire cage fence.

"This destroys the setting of the Castle and the award-winning grounds of the Castle Park."

He said that it was time English Heritage ordered the Council to remove the illegal structure, or for action to be taken to ensure that the floodlighting structure complied with Ancient Monument regulations.

Mr Russell added: "The present state of affairs has dragged on too long. The Council has been shown to be incompetent and irresponsible when it should be upholding its position as custodians of the town's heritage."