FUNDERS behind Colchester’s half-finished Visual Arts Facility have given the go-ahead for construction work to resume.

The all-clear was given for contracts with builders to be signed after a report found it should be possible to complete work in the £25million budget.

Contractors are expected to return to the site in November.

Councillors were unable to give an estimated completion date because weather will affect the pace of work.

In addition, contractors will be given more time to do the work if they agree a lower price.

Colchester Lib Dem MP Bob Russell, one of the project’s fiercest critics, said he remained sceptical about the prospects of it opening to the public.

He said: “I understand there’s going to be a flypast of flying pigs at the opening ceremony.”

The report on the condition of the gallery – referred to as firstsite:newsite or the Visual Arts Facility – was conducted by London Eye builder Mace.

The company presented the report yesterday to representatives of all the funders and backers of the building – Colchester Council, Essex County Council, The Arts Council, the East of England Development Agency and Essex University.

Paul Smith, Colchester councillor responsible for culture and tourism, said: “The reports were roughly in line with our own assumptions.

“There were no problems uncovered over and above the fact it has been sitting there for a while, and the problems we already know about.

“That is positive news, and the funders agreed we are determined to continue to deliver this project within the budget.”

Mr Smith said Mace had agreed to manage the project but the council would be signing separate agreements with several contractors.

This contrasts with the arrangement with the previous firm in charge, Banner, which made its own agreements with sub-contractors.

Banner’s contract was terminated in April, due to a dispute with the council over who should pay for damage caused by a leak that happened while work was stalled during an earlier disagreement.

Lib Dem Mr Smith said the new individual agreements would be negotiated with a view to keeping costs down.

He added: “We hope to have contracts signed towards the end of the month. We then have to wait for a month for health and safety checks to be carried out, so work should resume in November.

“I can’t give a date for when it will be finished, as it will depend on the weather, and also, the quicker you get something built, the more it costs.”

Mr Russell said he thought the funders were taking the best route out of the “financial shambles” of the VAF but continued to heap scorn on the project.

He said: “The VAF has placed a huge financial burden on the town and robbed it of a central bus station.

“The vast majority of people in Colchester didn’t want it, but their views were ignored and this is the result.”

Pauline Hazell, culture spokesman for the council’s opposition Conservative group, said: “The Conservative Party will support the administration in getting this finished. When it is, it will be very good news for the town.”

Conservative group leader Kevin Bentley said: “Like the council’s administration, I share the vision for firstsite:newsite and know the benefits it will bring to the town long-term.

“It is an essential building, and will provide us with education facilities for old and young, a concert and theatre auditorium, a place for local artists to display their work and a general meeting place with restaurants and cafes.

“The parkland around it will be the first new open space in Colchester for a long time.”

No one from firstsite:newsite was available to comment.