Colchester: Pensioners warn "We'll march again"
5:00am Friday 29th July 2011
PENSIONERS are set to take to the streets again to march in opposition to plans to close an activity centre.
War veterans and widows joined the march through Colchester High Street in 2004 when Colchester Council suggested closing Abbot’s and Lion Walk activity centres.
Now die-hards said they are prepared to march again as the council is looking to close Abbots Activity Centre off Mersea Road as part of a review of older people’s services.
Colchester Council is proposing investing more money in Lion Walk activity centre and creating a number of volunteer-led groups across the borough while still saving £30,000.
Volunteer Iris Thompson, who is 83, was one of those who fought the threatened closure of Abbots Activity Centre seven years ago.
She said: “We can’t believe we may have to march again but we are prepared to do so if we have to.”
For more on this story, see this week's Essex County Standard.