Trust us! Colchester councillors have made a plea to the public to have faith in them to get the reshaping of the town right.
They voted for the multi-million pound St Botolph's quarter regeneration at the Moot Hall last night.
This was in face of enormous outcry against losing the Queen Street bus station.
More than four hours of fierce debate saw the political parties revelling in rhetoric, name-calling and shouting each other down.
The masterplan for the £16.5 million art gallery, a new bus station in Osborne Street, a £250 million retail development, homes and a magistrates' court was eventually backed.
But only when the Conservative-led council agreed to Lib Dem party amendments.
The Labour group's amendments, which included saving the current bus station, were thrown out after the council voted 39 against, nine for and with seven abstentions.
Tory leader of the council John Jowers told the meeting: "Allow us to make a value judgment for the 160,000 odd people of Colchester.
"We have to get it right. We were elected by you, you can get rid of us if you think we are plonkers. If we don't get it right you can vote us out."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Friday, February 25, 2005
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