The project to create a ‘local list’ of buildings for Colchester was launched as planned in the Mayoral Suite last Thursday courtesy of the Mayor and Colchester Borough Council. The Mayor, Councillor Henry Spyvee, opened the proceedings with words of welcome and Councillor Lyn Barton, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning, introduced the speakers (Karen Syrett who is the Spatial Policy Manager at CBC, and Andrew Phillips, James Bettley and Philip Crummy who are members of the Forum). It was a very memorable and pleasant event shared by an audience which included MP Bob Russell and Councillors Ray Gamble (Chairman of Planning), Chris Hall (Local Development Framework Committee), and Jeremy Lucas (Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Heritage, Culture and the Arts).
The project needs to be well publicised because its success is dependent on public awareness, consultation and participation. The local media did not let us down. Good articles appeared in the Colchester Gazette, the Essex County Standard, and the East Anglian Daily Times, and BBC Essex helped too with an interview with James Bettley. Another public meeting is planned for around the end of October when the provisional draft list is to be published on this website.