Rayleigh Town Council applied for planning permission to have 26 small plaques in Webster’s Way Car Park, to show which individuals and businesses have sponsored their new flowering baskets that are going in there.
However the District Council refused permission last night by 12 votes to 11, on the grounds of them being out of keeping with the conservation area.
Councillors Joan Mockford , Chris Black and Derrick Stansby spoke in favour; Mavis Webster, Heathr Glynn and Keith Gordon spoke against.
The key voters on this were Keith Hudson and Michael Steptoe, who accepted the principle of the plaques but didn’t like the design of these particular ones (the same design as currently used in the High Street). So if the Town Council can come up with a ‘better’ design….
Incidentally, Hawkwell Councillor Phil Capon is the new chairman of the Development Committee.