News & Events
Future Plans approved to support rural communities
The Somerset Market Towns Forum is widening our scope so that anyone involved in improving their communities in market towns and large villages in Somerset is able to get support from the Forum in the future.
Previously, only Community Planning/Regeneration groups could be members of the Forum, but now Town and Parish Councils and single-issue regeneration groups active in their communities can also become members. This will allow more people to access our range of free services.
Widening the membership of the Forum was one of a number of key decisions made at our AGM held on 26th Nov at Great Bow Wharf, Langport, where members approved our new Business Plan that sets out the development of the organisation over the next 5 years. Members, Local Authorities and other organisations who offer services were consulted during production of this, and the Business Plan reflects members needs and aspirations.
The AGM heard about the work of the two Forum Officers over the last year, which included organising training events for members, consultancy sessions for community groups, delivering a new website and email bulletins, offering an information and signposting service and writing a report into sustainable tourism that looked at local festivals and how communities can get more economic and social benefits from these. This work was funded by Somerset Rural Renaissance Partnership and Somerset County Council, with the website being funded by the Market & Coastal Towns Association.
The AGM was preceded by a tour and presentation about Great Bow Wharf, which is a great example of a project identified through community planning that has been delivered in part by Langport Area Development Trust, one of the Forum members. It includes serviced offices, a conference facility and a cafe, all within a restored riverside brick warehouse, and utilises sustainable construction methods and technology. The experience gained by LADT and its partners is of great value to other towns hoping to develop similar projects.
Created on November 30th 2007
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