Pam Cox MP Slams Second Delay to Colchester’s Local Plan: “Middlewick Deserves Better”
- Pam Cox MP
- May 8
- 2 min read
Colchester’s future is once ag
ain on hold — and so is the protection of one of its most precious green spaces.
Pam Cox MP has spoken out strongly against a second delay to the city’s Local Plan, after Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors voted against moving forward with the next stage of public consultation. The decision puts the future of Middlewick Ranges, a vital ecological site, at serious risk.
Why This Matters: Middlewick Ranges at Risk
The Local Plan is Colchester’s blueprint for the future — shaping where homes, schools, green spaces, and transport links will go. Crucially, the latest version included new environmental evidence that could help protect Middlewick Ranges, a site of national importance for biodiversity.
Pam Cox MP didn’t hold back:
“This was a crucial opportunity to protect Middlewick. I’m appalled that the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have sabotaged this effort again.Ignoring expert evidence is a blatant disregard for our natural heritage and for future generations.”
No Plan = No Progress
Without a Local Plan, Colchester risks:
Losing control over development — opening the door to speculative building that harms the environment
Missing out on affordable housing — with no clear framework to deliver homes with proper infrastructure
Delays to vital services — like GPs, schools, and transport links that new communities need
Labour councillors supported moving forward with the consultation, following the advice of local planning experts. But the vote was blocked — again.
Government Could Step In
The stakes are high. If Colchester Council continues to delay, the government could step in and take over the planning process — removing local voices from the conversation entirely.
Pam Cox MP warned:
“The community deserves a Local Plan that reflects our commitment to sustainability and protecting nature.The Tories and Lib Dems must explain why they’re denying residents the chance to have their say. If they keep blocking progress, they risk losing control of the process altogether.”
What’s Next?
Pam Cox is calling for transparency and accountability — and for local residents to stay engaged. The future of Colchester’s green spaces, housing, and infrastructure depends on it.
