I have to correct the letter by A Foster (Gazette Letters, August 4) which states that the Green Party was part of the ‘Labour coalition council’ at the time of the bus station move.

The Greens have not yet been part of any coalition on the council and I was elected as Colchester’s first Green councillor in 2019.

The decision to move the bus station to Osbourne Street dates right back to 2003, a year before Colchester Green Party was formed as a local branch, and throughout that decade the Lib Dems, Conservatives and Labour all had periods in power at the town hall.

At that time I was uninvolved in politics and only a teacher of history, although this changed in 2012 when I decided to get involved rather than continue to just grumble about things online.

I do agree with the view that a good market would really improve Colchester and bring more people into the town centre.

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We do have the excellent street traders in Culver Street, however a top quality indoor market is missing from Colchester. Returning to my Leicester theme, a few years back Leicester demolished its horrible red-brick 1970s market building (think several degrees uglier than the former Keddies) and built a brand new, top quality, clean, glass-fronted indoor market.

Behind it is a new public square with statues of local historical figures and the place is always buzzing with shoppers. I would happily support any initiative to bring a high quality indoor market to Colchester.

Councillor Mark Goacher

Castle Ward,

Morant Road,

Colchester