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Melksham - the way forward. 26th April, Well House Manor

Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2011-04-13 23:31:33 - Graham Ellis

Library - Postal Sorting Office - Swimming Pool - Youth Centre - Registration Service - The Bear - Professional Development Centre - Art Cafe - Road Safety Training Unit - Sports Centre - Bus routes and services levels - Car Parking - are all changing or on the move in Melksham. And what more to follow? - associated businesses, and businesses which rely on people brought into Melksham by these other businesses and services?

Times of change are also times of tremendous opportunity, and Melksham now has the most tremendous opportunity - we should grasp it and make sure that the changes are winners for everyone. Giving modern facilities to replace old. Giving a library that's within not Without. Allowing the release of council land for (re)development and to raise capital. Giving the benefits of scale of a single unit - reduced running costs, longer opening hours with the same number of staff, and encouraging multipurpose trips. And a facility that provides a positive environment for nearby businesses, a great atmosphere for the town's residents, and an attraction that encourages visitors to come into Melksham.

Can this rhetoric be transformed into reallity? There's an opportunity for it to happen, and there are real prospects.

Melksham Chamber of Commerce and Industry is sponsoring a "Big Society" meeting on Tuesday, 26th April 2011 - starting at 18:30 at Well House Manor (on Spa Road [details & map]). It's an open meeting - all are invited. But we're especially encouraging representatives of businesses, user groups, and all other groups in the Melksham Area. Our objective is to put all of our heads together and set a path forward which will tick all the boxes for Wiltshire Council (who have the say on spending), and for the people of Melksham too.

This meeting will be followed by a brief regular Chamber of Commerce meeting to which all are welcome to stay. The following meeting, on 24th May, will be our AGM. See http://www.melkshamchamber.org.uk . This special meeting is being coordinated by Graham Ellis, currently President of the Chamber, who maybe reached via graham@wellho.net or on 01225 708225.