A SAILING club has been told it does not need planning permission for a controversial marquee.

Stour Sailing Club, based in Quay Street, Manningtree, had applied to Tendring Council for permission to house the marquee for more than a 100 days on the banks for the River Stour.

But it withdrew the application after planners at the council decided the structure was not permanent.

At a meeting of Manningtree Town Council on Thursday some councillors hit out at the decision.

Penny Hughes-Stanton said: “What upsets the people around about is there is no control over the length of time that it is up. This is upsetting people."

David Warner, sailing club commodore, said: “The marquee is coming down this week as we have finished with it now.

“It doesn’t need planning permission but we won’t be leaving it up all the time, just for use in the summer.”