Major building threat to Cymbeline Meadows disclosed at Colchester City Council Scrutiny Panel

Colchester City Council has approved a strategic plan for 2023-26. One of the 6 key strategies is to respond to the Climate Emergency. `

An objective in the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency is to conserve and enhance biodiversity, in particular “to work with communities and grant-funders to pursue the development of Cymbeline Meadows as a nature reserve”

Unfortunately the delivery of the actions within the Strategic Plan rests with the Lib-Dem & Labour controlled Coalition, rather than the full Council. Under Cross-examination by the Council’s Scrutiny Panel, the Lib-Dem / Labour controlled Cabinet admitted that the preservation of Cymbeline Meadow is to be removed from the Strategic Plan.

Cllr Darius Laws, (Conservative Rural North Ward) & Chairman of the Scrutiny Panel, was concerned to hear of the intentions to abandon this ambition for Cymbeline Meadows. He challenged the administration to seek ways to retain the aspiration of designating it as nature reserve.

The Senior Councillor from the Lib-Dem / Labour coalition acknowledged that, not designating Cymbeline Meadows as a nature reserve could leave it vulnerable to future residential development.

Cllr Tom Rowe (Conservative Rural North Ward) asked for details of why a project, on which considerable public funds had already been spent, should now be abandoned. The Council’s Project Officer explained that at the end-of-year financial review, it was decided that the funds should be used for a more urgent project. The details of the “more urgent “project were not forthcoming.

Cllr Dennis Willetts (Conservative, Lexden & Braiswick Ward) reminded the Scrutiny Panel that 40 acre of the site is already on the market for £1m. It was included in the Council’s “call for sites” consultation for potential housing developments as part of Colchester Council’s Local Plan. Worryingly for its future, the agent describes the Meadows as: "A fantastic opportunity to purchase freehold land in a strategic location adjacent to one of the main arterial roads leading into Colchester city centre."

Cllr Laws concluded “I will continue to press for stronger environmental protections for this site and ensure Cymbeline Meadows remains a haven for nature, not housing.”

2025-10-08

__________________________________________________