I was delighted to read contracts are about to be signed for the completion of the VAF project.

The building’s design is a very bold statement and I feel sure that, once completed, it has huge potential as an arts venue for the north-east Essex area.

I accept there has been a high level of mismanagement, but we do need to look to the future; it will have a significant positive impact on the town, just as the Mercury Theatre did.

Bob Russell is a very dedicated MP who genuinely supports Colchester, and I totally agree with his comments regarding the design of the proposed law courts building.

However, he has to acknowledge the VAF has the potential to be very successful and should not make comments like, “I understand that there’s going to be a flypast of flying pigs at the opening ceremony”, which is very negative.

I do feel the planning people who make the final decisions regarding the aesthetics and overall design of buildings, such as the proposed law courts, need to give full consideration as to the visual impact in the area of St Botolph’s.

Will it relate to the existing architecture in the area? Is it sympathetic in terms of proposed construction materials? Are the proportions and details suitable?

It is very worrying council planning groups are able to make decisions such as this, which ultimately have a huge impact on the architecture of the town.

G Ingham
Woodpecker Close
Colchester

...Defending the closure of Colchester bus station to make way for the Visual Arts Facility, the leader of Colchester’s Conservative councillors, Kevin Bentley, said parkland, which will replace the remainder of the current temporary bus station, “will be the First new open space in Colchester for a long time”.

OK, before his time on the council, but in recent memory, Colchester has been blessed with three huge new areas of public open space.

They are the Gosbecks Archaeological Park, High Woods Country Park (part of which Tory councillors wanted to sell off for housing) and Cymbeline Meadows Country Park (the land purchase for which the Tories opposed).

With the Castle Park, Colchester has the best municipal park in Essex.

As it is so close to the VAF, there really is no need for a small park around the VAF as well.

Let me suggest a compromise which would go a long way to satisfying public opinion: landscape those areas next to the VAF which are not currently used as a temporary bus station.

Make the temporary station permanent, with modern facilities which would help both regular bus users in the town, as well as people travelling by coach to visit the VAF and other tourist attractions.

Who knows, it might even help people to approve of the VAF.

Rachel Goodwin
Dickenson Road
Colchester

...I read with interest that Mace has completed its report on the state of the VAF.

Councillor Paul Smith stated the report was roughly in line with his assumptions and added there were no problems uncovered, other than weathering and problems already known about.

I was appalled at the state of the building depicted in your photo – it looks like a derelict factory from a bygone age.

I would call on councillor Smith to publish the Mace report for all to see, and perhaps arrange a tour of the building to a selected public group, critics included, to prove once and for all that this hulk is worth more public money.

Mr C Halls
Sutton Park Avenue
Colchester

...It was with some irritation I read the front page of Thursday’s Gazette, which claims work on the neglected Firstsite project may resume in November.

That no-one from Firstsite was available for comment is, of course, shameful but the archetypal response.

I remain extremely sceptical – nothing has gone as intended with the project.

Gazette readers may recall Chris Pavely (chairman of Firstsite) claiming in January, 2008, Firstsite would, within the year, make “a big impression in Colchester”.

He implored people to be proud of their gallery, and insisted it could only happen “if Firstsite talked to the people of Colchester”.

Chris, please forgive me if I am wrong, but I don’t think I have heard a whisper from you (or Firstsite) since.

I do feel some sympathy for the current councillors, who inherited an absolute financial disaster from the ejected Tory administration in May, 2008.

Nonetheless, Martin Hunt and his colleagues on the council promised we would hear the incontrovertible truth regarding this calamitous project when the problems were resolved.

So, now the project is back on track, I would challenge those with the evidence to put their mouth where the money has gone.

Surely, now is the time to finally inform Colchester people what went wrong regarding this ridiculous project and point the finger at those who were at fault.

Sadly, I suspect many of the principle suspects responsible will have had time to cover their tracks and, in some cases, will have gone on to wreak havoc elsewhere.

Malcom Mattack
Broom Way
Abberton