QUESTIONNAIRES giving people the chance to have their say on how they feel Whitchurch should develop over the next decade will be dropping through doors on Saturday, March 6.
Every household and business should receive the leaflets about the Whitchurch Town and Parish Plan, inviting them to record their views and opinions on what the area needs to remain an attractive place to live and work in.
People can comment, for example, on whether there should be a new civic centre; or a purpose built arts centre/theatre; an extension of the canal into the town; more allotments; better bus services or more out-of-town building developments.
The final plan resulting from this survey will influence the ideas of town planners as to how the town should look in the years ahead.
It will also reflect people’s views on issues such as how Whitchurch should protect it’s existing businesses against the effects of the recession; how new businesses can be encouraged to fill the empty shops; where the new homes and businesses are to develop and what facilities are needed in the town.
The information gathered will be analysed by a specialist team based at Warwick University who will take the raw data and produce an analytical report to be considered in drafting the plan document.
The plan is independent from the town council or Shropshire Council, and will lay down guidance that both are required to take serious note of for years to come.
The aim of Town and Parish Plans is to give all residents the opportunity to have a say in the future development of where they live. In Whitchurch, a steering committee working independently of, but in co-operation with the town council has been working at the preparations for the plan.
The key factor is that the plan is not dictated by any one person or single interest group. The steering group is tasked with obtaining grass root input from people from all walks of life and all age groups, ranging from children to Senior Citizens about issues of interest to them.
The initiative started life with some public meetings in the autumn of 2008. During the last year the steering committee sorted out a budget, then set up various focus groups to concentrate on areas identified as of particular importance to residents at the first public meetings.
These were in the areas of the environment, life-long learning, the provision of community services, culture and leisure, and the local business sectors.
Finally, there was further canvassing of opinion by committee members addressing various societies and groups within the town and also setting up publicity stalls at the Sir John Talbot’s Summer Fair, the Blackberry Fair and the Waterways Boat Rally.
Sir John Talbot’s Technology College students will complete surveys as part of their Citizenship education, and younger children in other Whitchurch schools will discuss their views with teachers who will give feedback to the committee.
Replies need to be returned by March 20 and there are many collection points around the town, or a Freepost service is also available. There will be five prizes chosen at random for those who reply and include their contact details..
The steering committee group says that the higher the number of responses, the more impact the plan will have.