The project involving businesses and residents will be drawn up over the next six months to help Colchester’s leisure facilities fight back.

The strategy, being developed by Our Colchester Business Improvement District, will be based on research complied by talking to residents, businesses and stakeholders to identify the needs of the town centre.

BID estimates there are about 200 leisure businesses in the town centre including accommodation, hospitality, cinema, theatres and about 25 to 30 pubs which could benefit from the scheme.

BID manager Sam Good said: “What we need is to have an evidence-based strategy that picks out how consumers feel about their town centre but also the businesses and how they’re struggling.

“So really it’s to have a strategy that we can all commit to.

“The output is to evolve and enhance the town centre’s leisure offering at a time when it faces its biggest challenge.”

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Mr Good said it will have a roadmap outlining the strategy in the next three months with the aim of a full strategy to be launched in six months alongside initial investment money.

This will be the first part of a five to ten year strategy to help develop and save the town centre.

The town centre before the pandemic hit last year

Investment will come from a fund made from a levy paid by businesses in the district to be put back into the town centre.

It is hoped the strategy and investment can lead to further funds from the council, national funding pots and other groups.

The plan is a follow up to the Indie Vision scheme run by BID last year which aimed to boost independent businesses by drawing more shoppers to the town centre.

Independent advisor Sylvia Oates, who is the director of Six Till Six and manager of Best Bar None, a Government-backed accreditation for pubs and licensed premises, has been appointed to lead the development of the recovery strategy, conduct research and guide the Leisure Recovery Board.

A former Colchester County High School student, she said: “My team and I are delighted to be supporting Colchester through this important time.

“The town punches above its weight when it comes to its leisure offer, and we are looking forward to working with all of the partners on the Leisure Recovery Board to help give this resilient and innovative sector the focus and support it needs to recover successfully and sustainably.”