A BID for lottery funding to create a treasure trove of historical artefacts has failed.

Colchester Council applied for money from the Heritage Lottery Fund earlier this year to help pay towards its innovative Wonderhouse project.

However, the bid was rejected although the fund has encouraged the council to try again.

The council wants to transform the former bus depot off Queen Street into an arts centre to show a number of internationally significant artefacts which are currently in storage because there is no room to display them at Colchester Castle Museum.

Tim Young, portfolio holder for licensing, community safety and culture, said he was not downhearted by the rejection.

He said: "It is par for the course really. We had to bid three times for lottery funding for the castle so we will try and try again.

"Although we were unsuccessful this time, the lottery fund encouraged us to try again and we will do so.

"This is an important part of the regeneration of that part of Colchester and we want to be able to show artefacts in the Colchester Museum Resource Centre which are currently hidden away out of view.

"We did not find favour the first time but we are not discouraged and the response we got from the Heritage Lottery Fund was good."

 

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He added: "The Wonderhouse is truly innovative. There is nothing like it in this country.

"We got the idea from Germany and it is amazing."

Colchester Council won Heritage Lottery funding for both the refurbishment of Colchester Castle and the restoration of the Moot Hall organ in Colchester Town Hall.

Mr Young said he was still optimistic work on the Wonderhouse could start next year and would be completed in 2017 or 2018.