The battle for a new community stadium for Colchester has been taken to the heart of Government.

Fight goes on - Jeanette Westlake, Rob Knight, Bob Russell MP and Tom Weatherill hand the petition over to Tim Vine, representing Richard Caborn. Picture: STEVE ARGENT (40325-12)

Representatives from the Evening Gazette, Colchester United's supporters, and the town's MP handed over 15,332 names to the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

The Community Stadium Now! campaign was launched by the Evening Gazette in September to get all parties to work together to get the facility built at Cuckoo Farm, north of Colchester.

The Gazette has now taken the campaign to Richard Caborn, sport and tourism minister, calling on him to back the campaign and do everything in his power to bring the project to fruition.

Mr Caborn said it was good to learn about the proposals, and he hoped that a solution to the difficulties could be found.

Evening Gazette chief reporter Tom Weatherill, Colchester Community Stadium Action Group petition organiser Rob Knight, Jeanette Westlake, of the Colchester United Supporters' Association, and Colchester MP Bob Russell handed over the petition yesterday.

The campaign will continue until a community stadium is provided for Colchester.

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Published Friday, January 7, 2005

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