1. WINCANTON PEOPLES PLAN Our vision for the future of Wincanton and its surrounding villages and how we will make that vision happen

2. Market and Coastal Towns Inititiative (MCTi) The regeneration of communities should come from within those communities and be shaped by local people. The MCTi Sourcebook Government has provided funds to help us create a plan for our community for the next 20 years. A Steering Group has consulted with you to create our plan. It is called the Wincanton Peoples Plan. Wincanton town sign © Muriel Cairns, 2007. The sign was based on a design by Bernard Pearson, a Wincanton resident.

3. The MCTi process The Healthcheck Where are we now? What are our strengths and weaknesses? What threats and opportunities do we face? Community consultation Where do we want to be? How do we want to get there? Our vision Goals that describe the vision Strategies that will enable us to achieve our goals Specific projects that form part of the strategy and move us towards our goals PLAN ALSO NEEDS TO FIT WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF CENTRAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES Community Consultation © Muriel Cairns, 2005 and 2006

4. Wincanton Peoples Plan 2006-2026 Our Goals: EMPLOYMENT & BUSINESS Full employment, well-paid jobs and thriving businesses. SHOPS A wealth of interesting shops in a bustling High Street. HEALTH A healthy population with well-resourced healthcare. COMMUNITY An active, caring and inclusive population with facilities for all. HOUSING Diverse housing to meet local needs; new build sympathetic to our heritage. TOURISM & LEISURE A vibrant market town that is a hub for visitors. Our Vision: Wincanton - a welcoming, thriving, caring community

5. Employment and business Our goal: Full employment, well-paid jobs and thriving businesses. Key projects that will help us achieve this goal: Research employment land needs and reasons why businesses dont locate in Wincanton. Ensure employment land meets identified needs Use regular business surveys that identify the needs of, and constraints on, local businesses to influence business policies. Rochford: a growing local firm © JTL Financial Research, 2006.

6. Shops Our goal: A wealth of interesting shops in a bustling High Street. Key projects that will help us achieve this goal: Create the UKs first completely environmentally friendly wholefood supermarket. Enhance Wincanton High Street. Establish a community scaffolding project to help make renovating High Street premises affordable. Work together with retailers to enhance the shopping experience. Wincanton Post Office © Elaine Fraser, 2006.

7. Tourism & leisure Our goal: A vibrant market town that is a hub for visitors. Key projects that will help us achieve this goal: Expand tourist accommodation. Create new tourist maps. Establish a joint catering venture. Encourage local cafes to open longer. Extend farmers market to some weekends. Re-establish a local fair. A centre for tourism © Amanda White, 2006.

8. Health Our goal: A healthy population with well-resourced healthcare. Key projects that will help us achieve this goal: Research existing health provision to identify gaps. Promote healthy eating through, for example, themed food festivals. Establish allotment-plus schemes and future farms to promote well-being and healthy eating. Use planning gain to expand health facilities as the town grows. Wincanton Health Centre © Muriel Cairns, 2003.

9. Community Our goal: An active, caring and inclusive population with facilities for all. Key projects that will help us achieve this goal: Develop a well-lit footpath to the Sports Ground. Create safe cycle routes. Enhance the skate park. Extend CCTV coverage. Establish regular whole community events. Expand the Linx Project. Create a web-based community directory. Community gathered to commemorate the crash of Old Faithful © JTL Financial Research, 2004

10. Housing Our goal: Diverse housing to meet local needs; new build sympathetic to our heritage. Key projects that will help us achieve this goal: Optimise our use of the New Barns Farm key site by locating more of the homes we need there. Develop a flagship housing project to showcase quality and sustainability. Increase affordable housing to meet local needs. Create a quality-design framework. New housing development off Tout Hill © Muriel Cairns, 2006.

11. The environment Environment, in its widest sense, is fundamental to the whole Wincanton Peoples Plan. To succeed, the Plan must be sustainable and deliver not just for todays community but tomorrows as well. All the specific projects will be developed against this framework and will be required to meet good environmental standards and practice. View from Bayford Hill © Elaine Fraser, 2004.

12. What happens next? Publicising the Plan The first step is to make sure that everyone in Wincanton and the surrounding settlements knows about the Plan. Making the Plan happen The Steering Group will continue and will oversee the plan as it develops. This will include: deciding on the programme of what to do acting as broker to identify the lead bodies for each project bringing together the stakeholders for each project. Monitoring progress The Steering Group will conduct a formal review of the Plan after it has been running for two years and at regular intervals after that. Wincanton Market Place © Elaine Fraser, 2006.

13. You and the Wincanton Peoples Plan The Wincanton Peoples Plan is your plan and you are the people who can make it happen. The projects that form the Plan are many and varied. If a particular project appeals to you or you have skills that are relevant to it or you would like to be trained in relevant skills, get involved. The first step is to call 01963 31693. Maybe you are more attracted to managing the overall Plan. The Steering Group is actively recruiting people with a wide range of interests and backgrounds onto the Group. If you want to join, call 01963 31693. You can shape the future of Wincanton. It is you who will create our vision: Wincanton - a welcoming, thriving, caring community To get involved, call: 01963 31693 To read the full Wincanton Peoples Plan, call the telephone number above or see www.wincantontowncouncil.co.uk.