Bob Russell

MP calls for united action in promoting Roman Circus

Colchester MP Bob Russell this morning (Friday) revealed that he has called for united action - involving the Government as well as the Borough and County Councils and other bodies - in promoting the town's unique status as the home of the only known Roman Chariot Racing Circus in Britain which was discovered five years ago this month in the former Colchester Garrison.

Mr Russell, a former Mayor of Colchester, has asked the Minister for the East of England, former Tourist Minister Mrs Barbara Follett MP, to chair an exploratory meeting with the aim of establishing a strategy and agreed course of action to acquire the nearby Sergeants' Mess at the former Cavalry Barracks which developers Taylor Wimpey have offered to sell for a Visitors' Centre rather than convert it to housing for which they have planning permission.

Letters seeking the support of others to his proposal have gone to the Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Henry Spyvee; the Chairman of Essex County Council, Councillor Mrs Elizabeth Hart; the Chief Executive of the East of England Development Agency, Ms Deborah Cadman; the Managing Director of the East of England Tourist Board, Ms Tess Wright; the Director of the Colchester Archaeological Trust, Mr Philip Crummy; and Colchester resident Mr Peter Herring who has been a leading campaigner in promoting the Roman Circus.

Mr Russell said that he was hopeful that Mrs Follett would agree to his request for an exploratory meeting because of being until recently the Tourism Minister and her role as the Minister for the East of England.

In his letter to the Minister he said: "The Roman Circus, a 16,000 all-seater stadium where Ben Hurr tyle chariot races took place, is the greatest Roman historical find in our country for many years. Arguably, it is the greatest Roman find ever in the UK."

He pointed out that until the discovery, nobody was aware that chariot racing had taken place in Roman Britain. "The huge stadium, which stretched for almost quarter-of-a-mile, has in the main escaped being built over thanks to the designers of the mid-Victorian Barracks who unwittingly built them on either side of where the remains were under what became open space within the Victorian Colchester Garrison."

Mr Russell explained: "The former Barracks are now being converted into residential dwellings. One of the most attractive buildings, which is Listed, is the former Sergeants' Mess. This is conveniently located at the western end of the Circus and would be a superb Visitors' Centre as well as providing a new home for the Colchester Archaeological Trust."

In his letters to the Minister and others whom he is hoping will join forces to acquire the Sergeants' Mess, Mr Russell thanked developers Taylor Wimpey for their co-operation in making the building available - but he warned that there was only a short period for promoters of the Sergeants' Mess/Roman Circus project to put together a package to acquire the building.

"We have a small window of opportunity to secure a building which will provide a perfect setting for the promotion of one of Britain's greatest Roman heritage sites."

Mr Russell said that he had already had an encouraging meeting with the Chief Executive of the East of England Development Agency, and he had also had an initial meetings with English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. He believes the latter would be interested in providing finance to help with promotional works for the Circus and works at the Sergeants' Mess, although not its purchase.

He added: "Given goodwill all round, I do not see why we cannot acquire the Sergeants' Mess and then go forward to provide a visitor attraction which will draw tourists from around the world to Britain's Oldest Recorded Town and the home of Britain's only Roman Chariot Circus. Local residents, as they showed when the remains were first excavated, would also welcome this. At the moment, there is nothing there to explain such an important site in our nation's history."

In monetary terms, if all the parties could come together then Mr Russell said the contribution from each would not be excessive. "To put it into perspective, if both EEDA and Essex County Council contributed just ten per cent of the capital funding which they have given to the Visual Arts Facility then the purchase price of the Sergeants' Mess would be achieved by these two bodies."

Mr Russell concluded: "The various groups who I hope will respond with enthusiasm to my suggestion for a meeting, under the auspices of the Tourism Minister, should have little difficulty in taking this project forward if there is a desire and a determination to do so. I am confident that, overwhelmingly, the people of Colchester would wish this to happen."

He has previously offered to back a public appeal for funds by donating the first £1,000. Mr Russell is hoping that promoters of the Sergeants' Mess and Roman Circus will launch a Public Appeal. "I do not think this is something which I should or could do unilaterally, but I believe that local businesses, organisations and residents would happily support such an Appeal."