Colchester MP Bob Russell has had a reply to his letter urging the Prime Minister Tony Blair to throw his weight behind the town's proposed community stadium.
Mr Russell claimed the response was an "important breakthrough" in the fight to get the facility built at Cuckoo Farm.
It came from Lord Rooker, Government supremo for regeneration and regional development, who was asked by Mr Blair to look into the query.
The minister discussed the delays in sale of land for development at the Severalls Hospital site, one of several problems holding up plans for the regeneration of north Colchester, of which the stadium bid is part.
He said as the land was owned by three different parties - Colchester Council, North Essex Mental Health NHS Trust and the Department of Health - there were "considerable complexities to be overcome" before work could start.
But he said Whitehall health chiefs had recently ironed out one major issue - a disagreement with the council over the mix of affordable properties for old people and young families proposed for their part of the site.
So far, more than 8,000 people have signed petition forms in support of the Gazette's Community Stadium Now! campaign.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, November 15, 2004
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