AN action plan to improve life in Colchester is set to be drafted after a meeting of the town’s local strategic partnership.

Ideas put forward at Colchester 2020’s annual assembly included introducing a London-style Oyster card in the town and creating “walkable neighbourhoods” to encourage people to rely less on cars.

Delegates the Weston Homes Community Stadium felt that a wide-scale promotional campaign should be launched to highlight the borough’s cultural assets.

The 180 delegates, representing organisations as diverse as parish councils, hotels and chartered architects, focused on five issues: business, culture, healthy lifestyles, safer neighbourhoods and transport.

Three priorities to be implemented over the next 12 months were chosen for each issue.

Paul Zollinger-Read, who took over as chairman from Col Tony Phillips, said: “The people who can achieve them are sitting in this room.”

“By working together, we can ensure we deliver an exciting future for our residents.”

Dee Evans, chief executive of the Mercury Theatre, said she felt positive about the results of the day.

Speaking as a member of the heritage, culture and leisure sub-group, she said: “We are excited about taking these plans forward.”

For Toni Van Rooyen from HEAL, an abuse charity, the event was an important opportunity to get her voice heard.

She said: “I was sitting next to Adrian Pritchard, the chief executive of Colchester Council.

“He's someone I wouldn't normally be able to talk to, so it was very useful in that respect.”

The action plan will be collated for Colchester 2020’s next board meeting in six weeks.