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Date issued: 30 October 2020
Issued jointly with Essex County Council
A multi-million-pound bid by
We Are Colchester to fund several projects
around the town has been submitted to the
Government.
At the start of 2020, Colchester was
chosen as one of 101 towns across the
country that could apply
for up to £25 million from the
Government’s Town Deal Fund.
Over 1000 individuals, groups and
businesses submitted their views on how
Colchester can be improved following a
successful bid. These ideas were developed
into several projects under the broad
themes of how we live, grow, and connect.
The bid to fund these projects has now
been submitted by the
We Are Colchester Board.
We Are Colchester
is a dynamic partnership involving
public, private and voluntary
organisations that was formed in January
2020.
Board Chair and local businessman,
Simon Blaxill, said:
“I believe that we have submitted a
very strong bid for this money. The list
of projects chosen, will make a long
lasting, positive difference to our
town.
“They will promote skills development,
create jobs for local people, make our
communities more attractive and with
better facilities. The Town Deal
provides Colchester with a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make
our town an even better place to live,
work and visit.”
The list of projects includes:
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The creation of digital work hubs
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Transforming facilities for young people
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A digital skills hub at the Wilson Marriage
Centre (Magdalene Street)
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Public realm improvements in the town
centre
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Restoration of 1000 year old Holy Trinity
Church and the first phase in restoring our
iconic Victorian water tower ‘Jumbo’
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Transformation of community facilities in
Greenstead
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The accelerated introduction of 5G
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Improved walking and cycling links across the
town.
Cllr David King, Colchester Council Portfolio
Holder for Business and Resources, who also Chairs
the We Are Colchester Advisory Group, added:
“We have already secured £1M. If
successful, this further £25 million bid will
enable big improvements to be made across the
whole town. Our public consultations showed that
people want Colchester to be ‘greener’, to provide
greater opportunities for young people and to make
it easier for people to walk and cycle.
“Local people want the town to be made more
attractive and for improvements to be made to
infrastructure. The projects that We Are
Colchester have submitted to the Government
address all these issues.
“With the help of other investors, we can
make a huge difference to residents
and help businesses and those they employ at
this difficult time to have confidence in
Colchester's future, as a great place to
live, work and visit'.
Cllr Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet
Member for Economic Growth
and We Are Colchester Board Member said,
“The investment proposed as part of Town Deal
submission to Government provides a great
opportunity for sustainable economic growth in
Colchester and its surrounding area.
“We have established a bold vision that will help
the town to embrace the future, with a strong
package of investment programmes and projects
around active travel, employment and skills,
regeneration, young people, heritage and culture.
“We look forward to continuing the work with the
community, local stakeholders, Colchester Borough
Council and Central Government to take forward the
Town Deal bid and the many opportunities it
offers.”
We Are Colchester expects to hear before February
2021 whether it has been successful in getting all or
part of the money.
More information on the Town Fund can be found
here
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