A fresh funding row has broken out over over plans to move Colchester bus station to make way for an arts gallery.
Town MP Bob Russell, who is vehemently opposed to the bus station moving to Osborne Street, claims the gallery can be housed on the Queen Street site with the station and funding will not be affected.
He wrote to the five funding partners asking if grants for the gallery were conditional on the bus station relocating, and the four that replied all said it was not conditional.
However, Colchester Council today said it had never claimed that the bus station had to move due to conditions on funding.
Ian Vipond, head of environmental policy at the council, said: "In the tight definition of 'is funding conditional on the bus station moving', no-one would write that into the criteria.
"What all the partners are expecting, however, is that development next to the visual arts facility matches the character of a new cultural quarter for Colchester."
Mr Vipond said: "The council believes Osborne Street location is the best location for a bus station. It does allow us to get funding to build a 21st century bus station by incorporating it within the retail development scheme."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, October 6, 2004
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