SCRAPPING plans for thousands of homes and ending annual elections are among the plans presented in Colchester Conservative’s manifesto.

The party has revealed its ambitious plans for the town ahead of the Colchester Council elections on May 2.

These include plans to scrap West Tey - a new garden town which could see up to 24,000 homes built to the west of Colchester.

The Tories say they would also go back to the drawing board with the local plan and create a five-year plan to deal with “Colchester’s worst infrastructure problems”.

Other proposals include ending annual elections to save money.

Instead they would hold all out elections every four years,

Conservative group leader Darius Laws said: “It is time for change. Time for a new council with the determination to address the challenges and realise the Roman tourist potential of Colchester.

“It is also time for a council who will ensure housing growth comes with infrastructure, not continuous car-dependent urban sprawl.

“Our villages and Mersea Island must be protected against overdevelopment.

“We will support business and enterprise, end costly and strategy stifling annual elections, we will create a carbon neutral plan and we will not waste your council tax.

The manifesto also suggests introducing ‘Boris bikes’ and creating a discount bus pass for young people and families.

The party says it would invest in PCSOs, improve CCTV and crackdown on aggressive begging.

It would also take back control from Essex Highways for minor street repairs and signs within the historic town centre and non-parished areas.

Lewis Barber added: “Our plan puts community and infrastructure first in Colchester. We will give the tools to neighbourhoods so they have more say on issues such as services, housing, roads and public transport.

“By ending the culture of wasteful spending at the council we will be able to spend more money on the services that the people of Colchester actually want.”

Bid to make town ‘buzz’

THE Conservative group say it would create a Colchester with “the buzz of Brighton and the beauty of Bury St Edmunds”.

Proposals to improve culture in the town and drive tourists to visit have been unveiled in its manifesto.

Suggestions include looking at opening a Roman experience or Tourist Information Centre as part of the review of the Cultural Quarter plans.

The party would also look to set up a “restaurant in the sky” in Jumbo and introduce multisite tickets for attractions such as the castle, zoo and Roman Circus centre.

Other pledges include enhancing Colchester Market and making the ‘lanes’ area of Eld Lane and Sir Isaac’s Walk more pedestrian friendly.

The party would also introduce music in council run car parks and light up the Roman Walls, Jumbo, civic buildings and other important monuments.

It said it would improve access to the River Colne and increase the use of fixed penalty notices for dropping litter, dog fouling and graffiti.

Visit www.colchesterborough.com to view the full manifesto being proposed.

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