Words by Colchester Council leader, Paul Dundas.

This week we have submitted Colchester’s bid for city status.

This had broad cross-party support when voted for in full council with only a small number of abstentions and votes against.

What the result will be no-one knows, but it has been a fascinating exercise to write down just all the things there are in Colchester.

Seeing them all listed on page after page is a very good reminder just how much the borough has going for it.

Even if you don’t support the bid, it is a revealing process to see it all written down in one place.

I’ve lived, worked, studied (or all three) in Colchester for the best part of 30 years and I found out things I didn’t know about or hadn’t seen.

When it goes public, I hope we can get a summary out as I think residents will find it interesting.

One of the things I haven’t ever given as much attention to as perhaps I should have is the Roman Circus.

I knew where it was, have walked past it numerous times, remember the news when it was discovered back in 2004, but I’ve never really investigated it that closely.

With the former ABRO (Army Base Repair Organisation) coming onto the market, I’ve recently been able to take a close look at it.

It is fascinating and an incredibly rare thing in Northern Europe.

The day I went to the visitor centre, there was a group from Kent who had come to specifically see it.

The council will be bidding to buy the site from the MoD, but we will be in competition with others.

Whatever happens with the bid, it is vital we ensure that the circus is properly managed, whether through our ownership or by vigorously enforcing the development brief Colchester Council is preparing after public consultation last month.

In the meantime, if you haven’t been there, I recommend a visit.