Plans to regenerate Witham’s “eyesores” will not come to fruition until 2015, a councillor has claimed.

The district council’s Local Development Framework, which was scrapped by the council two weeks ago, had identified three sites to revive - the Newland Shopping Centre, shops in Laburnum Way and the former Co-op building in Newland Street.

But Michael Lager, district councillor for Chipping Hill and Witham’s central ward, said: “The district council’s position remains that on town centre regeneration they want Braintree under way first and will then turn their attention to Halstead and Witham."

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.