The influential Colchester 2020 Partnership looks set to throw its weight behind a long-awaited move to build a new community stadium in the town.

Plans for the development at Cuckoo Farm, which would serve as a new home for Colchester United, won outline planning permission in July 2003.

But a series of hurdles remain in the way, and Colchester Council leader John Jowers said recently he thought other sites should be considered if it meant the stadium could be built more quickly.

His comments met with surprise from U's chief executive Marie Partner, who claimed it was too late to back out of the scheme and now appears to have won support from the 2020 group.

Made up of representatives of key players, including Colchester Garrison, Essex University and Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust, the organisation is briefed with following through a vision of how the town should look in 16 years time.

Published Tuesday, September 21, 2004

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