A LABOUR councillor has vowed to hold a referendum on the controversial Visual Arts Facility (Vaf) in Colchester.

Kim Naish, Colchester councillor for Berechurch ward, has promised that his constituents will be able to have their say on the building.

Although he has not yet put his plans into action, Mr Naish hopes to offer residents the chance to vote by the end of January.

“It is in its very early stages at the moment,” he said.

“I think it’s about time people clearly came out and said if they want it or not. ”

The councillor is currently the only one to plough ahead with the idea, but he hopes to get other Labour councillors on board.

The referendum will not only ask whether residents want the Vaf, but will also ask what options they would like the council to consider.

The council’s deputy leader Martin Hunt has said finishing off the Vaf was the only realistic option as the council would have to pay back millions of pounds to funding bodies if the project were abandoned.