THE public is to decide which schemes are to get a share of Colchester Council’s Big Choice funding scheme.

A panel has chosen 12 finalists from 50 shortlisted applications to compete for a share of a £200,000 pot of money.

The panel of judges included council leader Paul Smith, councillors Tim Young, Annie Feltham and Bill Frame and other council officers.

Now, it has been passed to the public to vote online or using paper forms available at Colchester Community Hub in the town centre library.

Paul Smith, said the scheme represents a “tremendous opportunity” for Colchester residents where they decide which projects will deliver “lasting benefits for their community”.

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Among the finalists are Beacon House, St Helena Hospice, Colchester Arts Centre and Colchester Institute.

However, Colchester’s High Steward Sir Bob Russell said he was astonished the application from an at risk charity for elderly people was rejected.

Some services run by Age UK Colchester could be lost without fresh funding.

Sir Bob said: “Last autumn I attended a cabinet meeting to ask if they’d give a grant of £25,000 to enable the charity’s welfare advice service for pensioners to continue.

“I’m astonished those who made this decision feel our elderly are not worthy of help.

“I hope the councillors who were not part of the shortlisting will find other ways of providing the urgently needed financial support Age UK needs.”

Voting opens from Monday February 22 and closes on March 4.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Town Hall on March 9.

To get involved, visit www.colchester.gov.uk/BigChoice.