COUNCIL leaders have met to rubber-stamp a landmark deal to transform Colchester’s historic town centre.

Colchester Council and Essex County Council will now head to the drawing board to ensure both authorities work hand-in-hand to deliver a new masterplan by the end of this year.

Among the proposals include a commitment to building a new “transport interchange hub” which will dramatically overhaul Colchester’s Osborne Street bus station and a view to promoting the River Colne and Castle Park as tourist destinations.

But we wanted to know what you would like to see in the town centre.

Here is what you said:

Fiona Ellerker: “Make it better for people to visit. Make parking free, help independent business to open and encourage people into town and not out to such places as Tollgate.

“Develop the beautiful things of history we do have and just stop building places out of town.”

James Collitt: “Turn the old cinema into an indoor multi-room play centre for kids and teens. Pool and snooker, table tennis, pool pit, arcades, cinema, mini football etcetera.”

Jon Andrews: “Make the play park three times the size. Add indoor play areas and adult entertainment - arcades, sports bars , hooters , pool , game, climbing walls etcetera.”

Lance Harrington: “At the very least, the town centre should be pedestrianised. Some will be dead against it, but as long as access to Dixons remains, the traders will be happy.”

Marianne Taylor: “For a start how about a free market pitch once a month for, students, artists, crafters, the list is endless. Then, reduce all business rates to get shops open again.”

Benjamin Aldridge-Cowles: “Colchester needs more jobs in the area. It’s taking in all these students but there are no opportunities in the area after, so they end up moving back home to their parents, loosing highly skilled young adults.”

Jus Carroll: “Stop trying to be a poor imitation of every other town and city - bring some uniqueness back, play on its history.

“Make Colchester a place that is different, a place where people would be happy to visit and where people that live in Colchester would be proud to talk about it.”

Jo Brooks: “New bus station that's more accessible to visitors. More retail shops, better shopping centre.”