Residents say they have been left “appalled” and “disgusted” after train bosses were given the go-ahead to build a multi-storey car park.

Greater Anglia has been given the all-clear by Braintree Council to install a two-tiered structure on top of its existing car park at Witham Station in Easton Road.

The franchise had seemingly abandoned the proposal earlier this year when it removed it from a planning application following widespread condemnation and objections from residents.

However, it submitted revised plans for a single-decked structure to the council earlier this year via an application for a “lawful development certificate”, which provides legal permission to construct a building without going through the normal planning process.

These plans were updated again last Wednesday to show Greater Anglia was again proposing the install a two-tiered car park.

Permission for the scheme was then granted by council bosses on Tuesday.

The decision has sparked outrage among residents and objectors, who claim the plans have been passed by “stealth”.

Andrew Ward, who owns an apartment in Witham, said: “They found a loophole and have completely ignored residents.

“They knew there was a lot of anger about the original plan so how can the council think this is acceptable practice for this to happen?

“They have gone completely against public sentiment by allowing this.

“Residents have been shafted on one hand but there is also no due diligence with this. There were serious highway concerns about the car park.

“The traffic is chaos around the station already so imagine what it will be like with this.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Resident Sam Mott said: “Me and other residents are appalled. We thought they had taken on board our comments but it seems that they don’t care what we have to say.

“This will be horrendous for the people living opposite the car park. We were totally against this from the beginning and I am disgusted that this has been approved.”

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Greater Anglia has previously rejected suggestions it has tried to sneak its plans for the car park through the planning system.

A spokesman said: “There is a significant and ongoing growth in demand for car parking at Witham station.

“This trend will continue with the further local housing growth planned and the introduction of new longer trains, so we do need to extend the capacity of the car park.

“We have followed due process throughout this application and we continue to work closely with Witham Town Council and Braintree Council to try to secure approval for our proposals.”

A Braintree Council spokesman said: “Railway operators can carry out some forms of development without the need to get planning permission.

“A lawful development certificate was issued because Greater Anglia’s application complied with government legislation.

“Due to the regulations around this type of application, the planning committee had to follow the relevant legislation and act on factual content alone.

“That is why the committee could not take into account the views from residents or other factors as it usually would with a normal planning application.”