I applaud the plans to revamp the St Nicholas Square and the area adjacent to the Mercury and Jumbo.
But in reference to Brian Light’s letter (Gazette Letters, May 18, “Jumbo plan for a cultural quarter”) we should tread carefully over how much is allocated from the Government’s Town Fund to the Jumbo project.
What is the Heritage Trust asking for and what do we get for our money? What are the credible visitor projections for each of the first five years?
Before we get to the cost of the viewing platform, lighting and fitting out a café (another one!), let us see a firm estimate to supply and install the lift and the cost of its annual maintenance contract.
The number of legal and operational issues will be enormous.
Before this gets too much traction and embraced by councillors, the costs and projections need to be scrutinised and appraised by someone experienced in the field.
I believe the trust is overplaying its potential to boost visitor numbers.
There aren’t many tourists around town after dark to admire the lighting and Colchester doesn’t have the skyline of Oxford or York.
READ MORE:
- Letter: 'Alumno will blight town... it’s time to put the people’s views first'
- Letter: 'We will do everything in our power to stop this disastrous flats plan'
- Letter: 'Funding gives unique opportunity to finally restore our iconic Jumbo'
Not everyone is comfortable with heights and lifts.
To well-travelled outsiders, the “wow” factor is limited...
In my view any money from Government coming to Colchester should be used to benefit the maximum number of residents and businesses.
Elaborate plans for Jumbo won’t be top of people’s wish list.
Revisiting the Walls project would be a good start to keep commerce alive. It would be nice at a modest cost to cheer up and improve Trinity Church grounds on an ongoing basis. How about making the bus station more welcoming?
Lots of relatively small things can make the world of difference to the town experience.
Yes, we all love Jumbo. It is unique but deal with essential maintenance, tidy it up and keep our feet and scarce public money on the ground.
Nick Chilvers
Canwick Grove, Colchester
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