Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2011-11-04 15:37:21 - Graham Ellis
Yesterday evening in the Assembly Hall, over 100 representatives of local groups and the community came together in "Melksham Forward" - a meeting arranged by the area board and Community Area Partnership to consider local inputs and priorities for the community / area plan - the strategic blueprint for the future which will lay out how we want the town to go forward. It was really good to see so many people involved, and to take part in constructive discussions on various of the tables. Underlying statistics from the Intelligence Network was presented as a starting point, and at the end of the evening the reporter from each table gave their top priorities.
Community Safety
Pub Watch
Dangerous Parking
Safe Cycling
Support Domersic Violence Victims
Economy, Jobs and Skills
Stength and Diversity in businesses
Work experience, preparing for work and internships
Celebrate the town for residents and tourism
Health and Well-being
Cancer and men's health
Teenage Pregnancy
Alcohol issues
Children and young people
Sexual health education and discreet advise
Pubic transport / cheap fares for young people
Train to get to and from college
Publicity for events for youth
Catching deprivation at a very young age to break the cycle
Transport
Buses - half hourly not 2 per hour
Sunday buses
Trains - currently bad -> every 2 hours
then integrate trains with buses
Tickets / cafe / car park at station
Cycle route 403 dangerous - reroute through campus
Environment
Reduce carbon and protect countryside
Wilts and Berks opportunities
Cycle improvements needed to Great Chalfield
Bus and train improvements
Housing
More social / private / shared ownership housing
Village Houses
Making downsizing attactive as people get older
2000 empty properties, but 16000 awaiting homes
Leisure, Arts and Culture
Reduce reliance on too few, too busy volunteers by increasing volunteer base
Inclusing yound
Improving communications
Focus on campus
Town guide - improve with less history
Melksham Forward
Melksham Museum
As a final summary to the evening, Councillor Seed commented than not only had we got on well, but we had got on with the task in hand. Neat words, and I echo his sentiment. And big congrats and thanks to Abbi, Miriam and all the others who helped organise it.
Community Safety
Economy, Jobs and Skills
Health and Well-being
Children and young people
Transport
Environment
Housing
Leisure, Arts and Culture