AN MP has joined calls for the location of an upcoming planning committee meeting, where a controversial application will be discussed, to be moved.

A developer's bid to build 78 home off River View, in Witham, is expected to be voted on at a Braintree Council planning meeting at the council's Braintree base in the coming weeks.

But MP Priti Patel claims the application requires 'exceptional treatment' and has called on the council to move the location from Braintree to Witham.

Ms Patel said: "This planning application has attracted a huge level of public interest and opposition.

"Many people will want to be there to make further representations when the application is being determined and holding the meeting at a venue in Witham will enable this to happen.

"The public in Witham deserve to be able to see the decision being made and holding the meeting in the town is the right thing to do.

"I appreciate that holding a meeting outside of their offices and in Witham may present some logistical challenges.

"But other councils manage to do this and so I expect Braintree can too.

"Not everyone will be able to travel to the council offices in Braintree and this is an exceptional application and needs exceptional treatment."

Braintree Council has previously said if it moved the River View meeting would be obliged to do the same for other applications.

A spokesman said: "We would also have to hold a special meeting for that one planning application which isn’t an efficient use of resources.

"Instead, we can hold a full committee at Causeway House which allows us to consider not just this application, but others in the north of the district.

"Our meetings are open to the public and we welcome residents to attend."

"They are also webcast live online and will be available to watch after the meeting, which we wouldn’t be able to do if it was held in Witham."