RESIDENTS have called on Colchester Council to pay off the developer behind the controversial Prettygate Tesco - and stop the shop from opening.

Council planning officers had already given their blessing to plans to knock four shops into one, in Cotman Road, Prettygate – before locals and councillors discovered Tesco would be moving in.

The change was allowed to go ahead without consultation as it was not considered important enough.

But although Colchester planning bosses stated it had been an “error of judgement”, independent legal advice said the planning officer had acted correctly.

Now, the Prettygate Community Group has called on the council to revert planning permission back to what was awarded before the walls were knocked in - and pay Hills Building Group for their losses accrued for the work they have carried out since.

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