Whitchurch blueprint due to become a reality

People who helped contribute to a blueprint for the future development of Whitchurch will soon see the plans become a reality.

The Whitchurch Town Plan Implementation Committee has been tasked with delivering the town and parish document which features the wishes of local people. The committee has been working with individuals and organisations in the town to make the actions from the plan happen.

Residents said they wanted improved co-ordination of, and access to, community information and events.

As a result, there will soon be a website featuring local information and events.

The town plan also highlighted the need to improve and maintain the footpath from the canal into the town centre.

A project group applied for funding from Shropshire Council's Market Town Revitalisation Programme for money to do this.

The project includes resurfacing some of the footpath and installing new signs.

Progress on this project can be seen in a shop-front window opposite Whitchurch Civic Centre in High Street.

The town plan document, which has been three years in the making, sets out a vision for the town's development in the coming years.

A panel of residents and councillors produced the plan after sending out surveys to 4,300 homes and 300 businesses, of which about a third replied.

It considered a range of topics like crime, health, civic leadership, housing, business, transport and environment.

Another of the survey's key findings was that residents wanted to see more police on the beat.

Councillor Peggy Mullock, town mayor, said: "As a member of the PIC I know first-hand how the people of Whitchurch are working together to make the aspirations of the community a reality."

PIC meetings are held on the last Tuesday of every month in Whitchurch Civic Centre at 7pm.