You are here Networking: Call For New Towns To Join The Market and Coastal Towns Initiative
Market and coastal towns across the south west are being invited to take part in the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative, an innovative community planning programme which supports local people to design the future of their town and surrounding area. At the very heart of the Initiative is the preparation by local people of a long term community strategic plan covering the social, economic, environmental and cultural futures of their towns and surrounding parishes and the provision of support to enable such plans to be implemented. Towns selected to join the Initiative will receive up to £20,000 in grant, dedicated support from a Community Facilitator, professional assistance from consultants and templates and toolkits to aid their progress. In return a local community invests their energy, commitment and enthusiasm.
The Initiative is delivered on the ground by the Market and Coastal Towns Association, James Hassett, Chief Executive comments,
“I am delighted to launch this new call for towns to join the Initiative, I very much believe that the programme offers the unique opportunity for a community to come together around a shared purpose and vision and for a town to develop in a way that its community would wish to see, rather than having change imposed upon them”.
The Initiative has been in operation since 2001 and there are currently sixty-four towns in the south west engaged in the process, many of them have already produced their plans.
Eligible applicants include voluntary and community groups, town councils and individual community members and eligible towns should have a population of between 2,000 to 25,000. It is envisaged that ten new towns will be selected during this round and that towns will begin work in January 2007. In the first instance, those interested are asked to complete a short form to register their interest, this can be downloaded from www.mcti.org.uk or by calling 01823 250815. The deadline for the receipt of completed ‘Register An Interest’ Forms is 29 September 2006.
The Association’s Community Facilitators are available to meet with those interested in the Initiative and to answer any questions. It is also recommended that interested parties make contact with their local authority.
Visit www.mcti.org.uk for further details
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