A COMMUNITY hub hosted its first public meeting to discuss future plans for Dovercourt.

Members of Piecing Community Together Hub met on September 17 at the Church Hall, in Fronks Road, Dovercourt.

About 40 residents attended the meeting, where concerns were raised about Tendring Council’s decision to create a car park at the former Starlings site, in Main Road.

Residents opposed to the plans and called for a town square instead of a car park.

Ivan Henderson, councillor for the Harwich and Kingsway ward, was also at the meeting.

He gave reassurances the £1.5 million set aside for this programme will not be taken away.

He said: “As I explained, the old Starlings site is not just a car park.

“It will be a community area with the opportunity to provide more markets and festival events.”

A spokesman said: “Our rich heritage is key to the regeneration and future prosperity of our town.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to establish a future for the town more significant than the only rival on the east coast in Aldeburgh.”

Ian Davidson, Tendring Council’s chief executive, will be invited to a further public meeting once the data from the meeting and questionnaires have been debriefed.

Mary Newton, Tendring Council’s cabinet member for business and economic growth, said the plans for Starlings were about much more than a car park.

She said: “Our proposals for the site do include a car park, to replace the ageing car park nearby in Milton Road, as well as public toilets, green spaces and seating areas.

“The plan is the car park will have infrastructure installed which will allow it to be used as an event space should the opportunity arise.”