Almost £300k to be invested in youth services in Colchester

Colchester Council says it is putting the finishing touches to the business plans for its Town Deal projects, having been awarded £19.2 million to invest.

It means the council is in the final phase to obtain the money where it presents the detailed finances to Government which allows to pay the funds.

The Townhouse, in West Stockwell Street, will receive the bulk of the youth money, says Colchester Council leader Paul Dundas.

He added “significant investments” will also be made in Stanway and Highwoods youth centres, which will receive £170,000 and £120,000 respectively.

Read more: £18m Town Deal funding set to arrive this summer as projects go ahead

However, it falls short of the £2.1 million which last year was dropped by the We Are Colchester partnership’s board which would’ve gone towards creating an OnSide Youth Zone in the town.

In July, Mr Dundas stated a suitable site had not been agreed for a Youth Zone and the council would also need to find £500,000 per year to keep it running.

Pleased - Paul Dundas

“No doubt we haven’t all got exactly what we want,” said the council leader. “If I could write the list myself it would be different but the fact everyone has had to compromise probably indicated no one sector has dominated.

“In an ideal world it would perhaps not be so Colchester town centre focused – there is much more to our borough than just the town centre.

“I am very pleased with one aspect, youth services investment, we have managed to ensure it doesn’t all go to the town centre.

“The near £20 million Town Deal will enable us to leverage money from elsewhere so the total investment package will end up closer to £100 million in total.

“The key thing is it must be investment. It must bring real long-term benefit and deliver long term economic gain so as not to be wasted.

“I really hope everyone can get behind the projects from across Colchester and we will see diggers in the ground on them very soon.”