Portakabins pitch up
31st May 2007

Portakabins will shortly be arriving at the Cuckoo Farm site where Colchester’s Community Stadium will be built, heralding another step towards the start of construction.

Detailed plans have now been submitted for the stadium, which mean that the contractor, Barr Ltd, will be allowed onsite to finish off detailed preparations while the plans are processed and final consent is given.

The first Portacabin is expected to arrive at the site on Monday [4 June] with others following over the next few weeks.

The arrival of the site office and other temporary buildings enables construction company Barr Ltd to bring together the team of experts who will work on the last remaining details for final consents to be secured.

Cllr Brian Jarvis, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, said:

“Although this is not the start of construction, it is a massive step forward to securing the final consents needed for work to start on the development. We are extremely pleased that the contractor, Barr Ltd will be bringing their team together on site to give this project the final push. We are pulling out all the stops to have the community stadium completed for the start of the 2008/09 season.”

Final detail about the working of the independent company which will control the running of the stadium has also been signed off, building the momentum to keep the project on track to open in August 2008.

By having an independent company in place it safeguards the stadium on behalf of the community.

As part of this work a stakeholder group has been set up to make sure that the wider community are represented as the development of the stadium progresses. This group will feed into a community events committee to encourage as much community use of the stadium as possible.