PROPOSALS to move the statutory marriage room from Brentwood to Chelmsford mean you would no longer be able to have a register office wedding in the town.

A public consultation by County Hall is asking those in the county if they’d like to see the Essex Register Office – the head office – moved away from the borough.

The consultation says Brentwood residents would still have local access to a full registry service for births, deaths and marriages, but not the statutory room, which should be located in the head office.

County Hall wants to see the office in a more central location.

The statutory room allows you to get married for £46.

Lib Dem county councillor David Kendall fears a decision has already been made and the consultation is just a box-ticking exercice.

He said: “I am totally opposed to moving the statutory marriage room from Brentwood to Chelmsford because our register office is a very popular marriage venue in the heart of our community, with the superb Shenfield Common nearby for photos.

“If the decision to move to Chelmsford does go ahead, it will be another local service lost to Brentwood residents.

“I see no reason for us not to have a marriage room in Brentwood.

"If it can’t be at the registry office, what is wrong with using the Town Hall?

"Brentwood residents pay more than £32million a year in council tax to Essex County Council, which is more than enough to ensure local people can continue getting married in the borough.”

County councillor Roger Hirst, who is in charge of customer services, said: “We would like to provide this county-wide facility in a more central location, which is why we are launching this consultation.”

The consultation is open to all Essex residents and will run until Tuesday, September 8.

To take part visit essex.gov.uk/ registrations