A Halstead businessman says he will be heartbroken if his firm is forced to relocate in a dispute over planning permission.

Halstead Glass owner Bob Marshall is embroiled in a battle to get retrospective planning permission for a change of use to land he purchased last year.

The land on Broton Drive Industrial Estate is being used as an extra storage space and now has a 2.5 metre tall steel fence around it.

Mr Marshall has now applied for planning permission for the change of use of the land.

But residents have objected to the bid over fears about reduced parking and the unsightly nature of the steel fence.

However, Mr Marshall insists it is vital his business is granted permission to retain the extra facilities or else Halstead Glass could be forced to leave the industrial estate.

Speaking during a meeting of Halstead Town Council, he said: “We are a successful business, we employ 40 people and have 15 vehicles.

“We need the extra space to store excess equipment, vehicles and skips. Having that means we aren’t blocking the road.

“If we don’t get the extra room we will have to move.

“I am loathed to move to Bluebridge Industrial Estate. It will be out of the centre of the town and away from a lot of our paying customers.

“There was no one parking on the land before we bought it so I don’t see why this has become an issue.

“I will be heartbroken if we are forced to move.”

A letter objecting to the change of use has been written on behalf of some residents of Broton Drive and submitted to Braintree Council.

It said: “It is very clear this site should not be used for another thing other than parking unless the applicant can provide parking elsewhere to accommodate the lost parking spaces.

“However it may be easier to form storage elsewhere and save the parking for the residents as it was intended.”

Halstead Town Council said though it was disappointing planning permission was being sought retrospectively, it would not be objecting to the change of use.

Braintree Council will have the final say on the application.

If it is rejected, an enforcement notice could be handed to Mr Marshall ordering him to reverse the work and revert the land back to its original purpose.