HARWICH has lost out on a £100,000 council cash windfall after it was spent on a project in Clacton instead.

The money was generated from a housing development in Dovercourt.

Developers of the Taylor Wimpey estate, off Heron Way, handed over more than £100,000 to Tendring Council as part of the planning agreement.

Councillors demanded to know why it had been spent outside the town at a meeting of Tendring Council on Tuesday.

But Mr Guglielmi said the council sometimes had to spend the money elsewhere or risk losing it if they missed the deadline.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Guglielmi said: “In this case the money expires in 2015. I have spoken to officers and unfortunately it doesn’t seem that any suitable scheme could be found in Harwich before the time expired.

“Rather than giving it back to developers it was earmarked to a project in Clacton. The important thing is that we don’t lose this money.”

Speaking after the meeting East Central ward councillor Dave McLeod said he was disappointed with the response.

He said: “It should have been spent in the community here as it was generated here.”