Open House to share ideas on Melksham Neighbourhood Plan

Local organisations, their members and local residents are invited to participate in the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan Open House Launch event.

This will take place at Melksham Assembly Hall between 2.00pm and 7.00pm on Friday 27th March and from 9.30am to 2.30pm on Saturday 28th March.

Following public feedback on priorities, the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group decided to form five thematic task groups covering (a) Housing; (b) Employment and Economy; (c) Health and Wellbeing; (d) Education and Lifelong Learning; and (e) Transport – but there are many other issues such as the Campus and the Canal developments which will influence decisions about the future of our local community.

The Open House event will give local organisations and residents a chance to have their say about the future of our area. The event will have two components:

(a) Representatives of local groups are invited to the formal Plan Launch that will take place in Melksham Town Hall at 5.00pm on Friday 27th March.

• Welcome address by the Chair of the Steering Group, Richard Wood

• What is a Neighbourhood Plan – briefing by Wiltshire Council (David Way)

• Our experience: How a Neighbourhood Plan was produced for Malmesbury (tbc)

(b) Exhibition and Open House discussions in the assembly hall on themes to be addressed in Neighbourhood Plan:

• Five themed areas covering – to explain issues / identify solutions / obtain views and ideas / sign up for Task Groups

• Your chance to raise other issues or priorities for consideration

• Display tables in exhibition area – chance for local groups to promote their interests and ideas

• ‘Vote’ for entries in logo design competition

• Exit survey conducted by myCommunity to obtain evidence to support Plan

There are many ways that local people and groups can take part:

(a) tell group members, friends and work colleagues about the event and ask them to drop in;