MORE than a third of a fund for the development of an ancient site described as “Colchester’s birthplace” is being spent on routine maintenance.

Colchester Council got £500,000 from homebuilder Galliford’s as a condition of planning permission being granted in 1995 for houses near Gosbecks Archaeological Park.

The authority then had hopes of applying for extra lottery funding to pay for the recreation of the ancient Roman temple which once stood on the site.

However, the bid failed and community group Destination Colchester has only recently revived plans to make more of the 166-acre plot, which also houses remains of Britain’s largest Roman theatre.

Over the past 15 years, the council has been using the Galliford’s cash to pay for services such as grass cutting and weed control.

Now, a response to a question raised in the council chamber by history enthusiast Darius Laws has revealed only £325,567 will be left by the time the current work ends, in April 2013.

Mr Laws told the Gazette he believed spending the money on jobs which would need to be done in any area of open space was contrary to the “spirit” of the deal with Galliford’s.

Planning documents from the time stipulated the money should specifically pay for development of the site as an archaeological park.

Had the cash been set aside in a high-interest account, Mr Laws said it would have increased in value and could have paid for one of the projects which Destination Colchester is now contemplating.

Mr Laws said: “The council should strongly consider adopting some of the sound proposals as suggested by Destination Colchester’s heritage group and seek to enhance Gosbecks.

“I would love to see a visitor interpretation centre on the site, something akin to the High Woods Park centre. Such a facility would offer somewhere for our children to learn and tourists to visit.”

The Gosbecks site was the centre of Camulodunum, a major centre of iron age power and wealth where King Coel – of nursery rhyme fame – is said to have ruled.

“It was due to the area’s importance the Romans deliberately targeted it when they invaded – arriving in a show of strength with an army including elephants – and later put up their own grand buildings there.

Mr Laws said: “The Roman temple and theatre sites are marked out and have a sign each, but this is a grotesquely humble way of promoting site as significant as Stonehenge.

“It is as important to Britain’s history as the site of a certain battle in 1066.”

The council supports Destination Colchester’s plan to develop the Gosbecks site, off Maldon Road, but says it is justified in using the Galliford’s money to maintain the area.

Council culture spokesman Paul Smith said: “It is proposed to continue managing the site and making improvements for visitors and the landscape while safeguarding the archaeology of the site.”