SEVERAL projects in Colchester Council’s action plan have stalled or will be scrapped because of funding problems.

A new resource centre at High Woods Country Park and a housing complex for elderly people are among the schemes to have hit a financial stumbling block.

Five initiatives in the council’s Strategic Action Plan have been categorised as “red”, meaning they are not on track.

The council’s strategic overview and scrutiny panel heard about the stricken projects during a six-monthly performance update at its meeting on Tuesday.

Anne Turrell, leader of the council, gave the panel information about the problems, which are: * The Care Village Project to build a home for the elderly, at Layer Road, is on hold due to remarketing of the land and changes in the availablity of public funding.

* A project to better equip young people for competition in economic change will be ditched.

* A review of swimming lessons among primary schools is running late. The council wants to help ensure each child can learn to swim at least 25m unaided by the time they are 11 years old.

* More funding is still needed to pay for a new resource centre at High Woods Country Park. It has not been possible to negotiate a price for the project within budget and external funding sources are limited because of the recession.

* A recycling initiative to collect glass from businesses has not had a good response. Uptake has been minimal and it is unlikely to save the predicted £25,000. The service will be reviewed.