THE timetable for a long-awaited shopping complex in Colchester town centre has slipped back another three months.

The £70million Vineyard Gate development at St Botolph’s is expected to create 750 jobs when it finally opens.

Plans have been in the pipeline for more than a decade.

Last March developers said two big-name stores had signed up to be part of the 155,000 sq ft shopping centre.

Bosses at Colchester Council have also agreed the deal in principle with Caddick Developments.

The council had hoped to get final approval of the development agreement and key financial terms in place by March 18, paving the way for a planning application. But the target date has now been moved to June in the council’s forward plan.

Ron Levy, of Colchester Retail Business Association, said many of its members are sceptical the scheme will ever get off the ground.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” he said. “There is never any really positive statement that gives a clear indication that the project will go ahead.

“We are very disappointed. We want it to go ahead and when it does, it will bring a dramatic improvement to the shops backing on to it in Short Wyre Street and Eld Lane.

“But year after year we keep hearing it is going to go ahead and nothing happens other than talk.

“Let’s see some action, let’s see some plans and let’s have some dates.”

Council bosses came under fire after holding talks on the proposals behind closed doors in November.

The press and public were barred from attending because of “commercially sensitive information”

which It said could jeopardise the project.

At the time, the council said all the signs were positive and more details would be released “when the time was right”.

The scheme – on the current Vineyard Gate car park – is seen as playing a key role in regenerating the Queen Street area.

It is designed to attract highprofile retailers to the town as well as offering restaurants, cafés and a car park.

The council has said it is willing to invest £5million to get the project off the ground.

It was hoped work could start next year.

A Colchester Council spokesman said: "The economic recession had a massive impact on retail schemes and the industry is only just beginning to recover and appraise schemes.

"We are confident that Vineyard Gate has the right credentials to make it attractive to investors and bring a new and additional offer to add to the many attractions Colchester Town has already got.

"Discussions with relevant parties continue."