EVERYONE just loves to have their say. Chewing the fat, putting the world to rights, pointing out where politicians, football managers and celebrities go wrong is a national pass time.

So Colchester Council’s decision to open the debate on the future of Colchester town centre to the public is to be welcomed.

Everyone who cares about it will have a view and each of these views are valid.

Too often politicians decide among themselves what should happen about our town, our county and country.

And recent evidence from the House of Commons shows, perhaps, they do not always have the answers.

To a degree, the public cannot complain. They have the chance to vote in - or out - politicians at every level and if they don’t use this, there is no point complaining after the fact.

Many attempts have been made over the years to resolve the problem of Colchester town centre. Most agree something needs to be done to make it better both in terms of a shopping and visitor experience and in improving air quality.

But the question is how do you do that?

And how do you square the circle of the historic street being a through road for traffic?

Now is the time for the man and woman in the street to have their say.

There could be a myriad of suggestions. Many may be impractical but there could also be some great ideas put forward.

The point is; have your say. If you don’t, you can’t complain afterwards if you don’t like what is being offered.