Councillor Dave Harris, Working for Colchester and Berechurch residents.

Councillor Dave Harris was recently approached by "The Princes trust" which does lots of great work involving team building and work elements for young people.

The Princes trust have been doing this work for over 35 years !!

The approach to Cllr Dave Harris was to ask if he had any ideas for a project.

Dave takes up the story..

"Once Princes Trust asked for a community project, I recalled a project I headed up 4 years ago, involving a then unloved and graffiti covered WW2 bunker pill box in Stansted Road which was a success, using Monkwick Residents association to manage.

I saw that another WW2 pill box in Mersea Road was in poor condition, and a feature un noticed with some graffiti on its walls. Bunkers like these are part of our history.

So I suggested that the young people could do a "make over" by negotiating with the Army a design, then raise some funds to pay for paint, which I helped with. These young people took on the challenge,

• They met with the Head of the Army in Colchester
• Created an acceptable design
• Applied their design to the walls
• Did lots of other work experience in furthering their careers

Well done to these young people - Cllr Kim Naish and I met and thanked these young people at the site.

I have agreed to get the help of a local artist to add definition to the work, then Cllr Kim Naish and I have agreed to give it a coat of lacquer to protect the Pill Box from any further graffiti

Its nice to see some positive young people getting some praise, so Well done them and well done the Princes Trust.."

Cllr Dave Harris

Councillor Dave Harris with the Princes Trust young people - July 2011