COLCHESTER MP Will Quince has thrown his weight behind the controversial Northern Gateway plans - despite widespread opposition to them from fellow Conservatives.

Colchester Council plans to build a leisure park on the Cuckoo Farm site, next to the A12, which will include bars, restaurants, an extreme sports centre and a state-of-the-art 4DX Cineworld.

Authority bosses have been widely accused by the borough’s Conservative opposition - as well as Tory MP Priti Patel - of double standards after giving their plans the go-ahead while rejecting the Tollgate Village proposals.

But now Mr Quince has given the plans his “whole-hearted support” in a letter to Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid, who could still make the scheme the subject of a public inquiry.

When quizzed on whether his letter is in direct response to neighbouring Stanway MP Ms Patel forwarding a constituent’s concerns over the Northern Gateway scheme to Mr Javid, Mr Quince said: “You might think that, but I will not comment. I will say this, and this is not directed at all at Priti, I will be absolutely fuming if this development is jeopardised because of politics.

“This is going to be a great thing for the town.”

The Tory admitted his support may surprise some, given the scheme is being put forward by the council’s Lib Dem, Labour and Highwoods Independents ruling coalition.

Mr Quince said: “I do not follow party lines anyway. This is my judgement alone.

“I have not discussed this issue with the Conservative group on the council.

“There has been a lot of criticism about how Colchester Council dealt with the Tollgate Village application.

“But my opinion is, even if you agree the council has not covered itself in glory, there is no doubting Northern Gateway will be fantastic for the town.

“Not only is it going to be great for the existing population of the town, I really do believe it will become a ‘must go’ leisure venue for the eastern region.”

He added: “Priti will only have done that if she has received something from a constituent.

“She comes at this from a very different angle, she is very unhappy with the way Colchester Council treated the Tollgate Village application and has made that absolutely clear.

“That development is not in my constituency, although it would have an impact on the town centre my opinion is we have got to all work together.

“But having said all that, if we get to a situation where Sajid Javid decides he is going to have a public inquiry, that will put back the plans another year which will have an impact on everyone.”

Ms Patel has denied trying to put the brakes on the council plans and says she has only ever forwarded on constituents’ concerns to Mr Javid, rather than making any personal comments.

Paul Smith, Colchester Council leader, welcomed Mr Quince’s comments.

He said: “It is certainly good that our MP have given his public support for the scheme, which has already attracted widespread support across the borough.

“We want this development, especially the state-of-the-art cinema, to pull people in from within a 45-minute travel distance which will mean it will become a substantial regional player - the sort of place which will have film premieres.”

He added: “I believe the two developments [Tollgate Village and Northern Gateway] can co-exist.”