PILES of litter left behind at a world famous beauty spot have been branded as “disgusting” by a frustrated councillor. The bags of mess were abandoned in Dedham on Wednesday after people flocked to the banks of the River Stour to soak up the sunshine. The rubbish had been left near the footpath gate leading towards Flatford in a field grazed by the area’s cows. Last month, a bullock, which had been grazing in the field opposite the Boathouse at Dedham, had to be put down after it was found to have a large amount of plastic blocking its stomach.
THE Conservatives are set to take control of Colchester Council - for the first time in 13 years. After Thursday’s election the Lib Dem and Labour coalition was left with just 23 seats between them, one less than they started the night out with. The Tories failed to secure a majority, also holding 23 seats, and Lib Dem leader of the council Mark Cory said discussions were ongoing to form a renewed progressive alliance. However, the Conservative Group has now confirmed it has reached an agreement with the Highwoods Independent Group to form a new joint administration for the next year. The Highwoods Independents are made up of Gerard Oxford, his wife, Beverly and their son, Philip.
COLCHESTER Council’s ruling coalition looks set to have maintained its grip on power after a dramatic election night. The Lib Dem and Labour alliance went into Thursday’s poll holding 24 seats between them. After the results were counted they hold 23. However, with the Conservative opposition failing to make up ground or take seats from other parties, the progressive alliance looks like it will survive at least another year. Leader of the council Mark Cory (Lib Dem) said: “We will start talking with other parties about how we work together going forward. “I personally could not work with the Conservative Party because I do not believe our values align but I believe the other parties could work together.”
The Greens’ success in Colchester is set to be mirrored across the country with the party making gains in other areas like Newcastle. Mr Goacher said the party was a “rising force” in Colchester politics as well as across the country. He said: “We haven’t been able to canvas for chunks of the lockdown, it has only been since the rules were relaxed. “It has been difficult because we have not been speaking to residents face to face as we normally would do through the year. “It has been difficult to gauge what has been happened in terms of the national political landscape too.
Conservative The Conservative Group is hoping to take control of the council from the coalition. To do so the group need to secure an additional five seats. The Tories have set out ten immediate pledges which they are promising to enact if the win control of the council. The first is to attempt to stop Alumno’s proposed students flats development off Queen Street and find an alternative plan for the area. Any plans to build on Shrub End sports grounds would be stopped. The group will commit £50,000 to explore “alternative options” for Middlewick, where 1,000 homes are set to be built.