COLCHESTER tourism bosses should “think big” in a bid to attract more visitors to the town, according to MP Will Quince.

The Tory intends to publish a document on the future of tourism in the town, which sets out aspirational proposals to build an Angel of the North-style Roman centurion statue and create a family-focused ‘splash park’ in Castle Park.

The document will be made up of suggestions from the MP himself as well as those submitted to him by residents.

The dad-of-two said: “Everytime I go to another historic town, they’re not perfect but they are doing far more things than we are in Colchester.

“One of the ideas is to build an Angel of the North statue here - I know that’s aspirational but why isn’t the council thinking big and examining that sort of thing?

“The Angel of the North brings people in from far and wide - why couldn’t we do that here?”

The location of the proposed sculpture has not been finalised.

The MP also said the town should emulate the Splash Park in Maldon’s Promenade Park, in Colchester’s Castle Park.

He added: “Even if it is something we only do over the summer, I think many people would say it is well worth it.

“In Maldon, it attracts families for a full day out.

“While they are in Maldon, they may also go shopping, get a meal or get a coffee and that all adds up as tourism spend.”

The document is also set to suggest running cycling tours around the town’s Roman wall and lighting up the entirety of it.

Colchester Council has already installed ground level LED lights to light up Balkerne Gate at night.

Mr Quince added: “There will be criticism and I’m prepared for that and the bottom line is tourism is the responsibility of the borough council and I have no influence on that.

“But it is simply a collection of ideas from myself and from residents and I hope the council might pick up and run with a few of them.”

Tim Young, the town’s tourism boss, accused Mr Quince of publishing the document to “make political gain”.

He added: “With respect to Maldon, I think we in Colchester are aiming higher than Maldon.

“Maldon’s splash park belongs to Maldon - why should we stop people going to Maldon?

“As for the sculpture idea, I think we will see something much more interesting with the progress we are making on the John Ball project - the controversial priest who took a leading role in the Peasants’ Revolt.

“It has the support of the people of Colchester, of the council.”

He added: “My personal preference for the wall tours is for them to be walking tours but I accept we could publicise them better.”