Librarian Carolyn Kennedy perusing the Community Plan, which is on display at Malmesbury Library 16148/5People in Malmesbury and nearby villages are having their say on how their communities should be developed. RONAN MCCaughey looked at the details

A group of volunteers from around Malmesbury have created a visonary community plan outllining the social, economic and environmental aspirations of local people.

The document has been heralded as a new way of developing trust between the public and politicians in an era when most voters feel disengaged from the democratic process.

Energising the local economy, improving learning opportunities for local people and increasing neighbourhood watch schemes to stop crime are among the top priorities.

More recycling, a lack of car parking spaces in Malmesbury and concerns about the future of Malmesbury Community Hospital were also important issues.

The Community Plan for Malmesbury and the Villages was officially launched in Malmesbury Library by a group of representatives from Malmesbury and the 18 surrounding parishes, known as the Malmesbury and Villages Area Partnership, earlier this month.

It is part of a district council led initiative to stimulate the local government process.

Bill Blake, chairman of the core group for developing the community plan, said: "This plan is a partnership between the communities and the local authority. It will bring information into the public domain and will enable resources to be better identified. If people feel their concerns are being represented they will be more likely to get involved. Local democracy in many people's eyes is in low esteem. People do not offer themselves for town or parish councils, leaving the community feeling left out from decision-making. The community plan can redress that balance and give visibility to what is happening."

Information on the future social, economic and environmental needs and aspirations of people in the Malmesbury area has been gathered from town and parish councils as well as local businesses, voluntary organisations, youth representatives, school councils and individuals over the last year.

The plan starts by listing the current features people most value about their communities and would like to see retained by 2015. For example, townspeople in Malmesbury said they wanted to retain the town's proud heritage, historic buildings and riverside walks.

Meanwhile in Sherston, villagers want to conserve their shops, post office and pub as well as retaining their vibrant sense of community spirit.

Mr Blake said he felt it was important to reflect what people value before revolutionsing everying. He said: "In ten years time we shall have a community which is not overdeveloped. Although things have to change we want Malmesbury and the villages to retain their distinct communities."

Building more low cost homes while preserving residents' privacy and the historical character of an area is a tough balancing act for local politicians in the Malmesbury area.

Only last week plans to build 176 two and three-storey houses at the Filands site on Tetbury Hill, Malmesbury, angered councillors and local residents because of the danger to pedestrians and the over-density of the development. But Mr Blake said the community plan would give local people a way of controlling the level of development by feeding their views back to district councils and developers. He said:" We hope the plan will give clout to planning decisions. There are lots of people with energy and talent in our community who can make a difference. We want people who can be a focal point in their community and then feed the issues back to us."

Community file

Targets and milestones for each community:

Malmesbury: A basic learning skills class of a minimum of eight students to be up and running by September 2005 and supported by visits to the library. Decision on CCTV to be made by 2006. The results of the strategic review due in summer 2006 should give clarity for the future of all Malmesbury's hospital based services.

Brinkworth: Encourage 20 full time and part time jobs. To link the scattered part of the village by extending pavements and / or cycle paths by at least two miles, specifically linking Callow Hill to the village centre by 2010. Complete a minimum of 11 new affordable houses in the parish by 2010.

Brokenborough: Assess demand and need in Brokenborough for a mobile library. Introduce recycling facilities.

Charlton: Villagers want more recycling and to retain existing public transport services. They also want to keep footpaths and bridleways.

Crudwell: Recruit new neighbourhood watch coordinators by the end of 2005. Investigate the need for better access to hospitals in Bath and Swindon. Extend pavements around the residential areas, specifically in the school catchment area and along the A429.

Dauntsey: Better bus services, particularly at commuter times. Resurfacing of the M4 with improved compound. Maintain reduced speed. Link all of The Green and St James Footpath.

Easton Grey: Investigate need and demand for village hall.

Great Somerford: Recycling facilities in the village. Investigate the need for bus services to Chippenham, Malmesbury and Swindon. Improve footpaths at key points along the village on the route to the school to allow more children to walk to school safely.

Hankerton: Improve recycling facilities in the village. Ongoing work to keep ditches cleared and minimise the risk of future flooding in the village.

Hullavington: Investigate where small businesses could be located.

Lea and Cleverton: Maintain the post office in Lea as a valuable facility for the inhabitants of the parish. Take steps to maintain and enhance the conservation area within the village in keeping with street scene.

Little Somerford: Recycling facilities; improve pavements from the centre of the village up the hill and along the street to Field View by the end of 2008.

Luckington: To support the building of a school hall which can be used by school and preschool for lifelong learning opportunities. Build at least seven new low-cost houses by 2010.

Minety: Work in partnership to continue to support local employment; ensure sustained use of the mobile library; work with Malmesbury police to resolve vandalism incidents.

Norton and Foxley: Protect and maintain local employment in the area to preserve the vitality of the community. Investigate the feasibility of introducing recycling facilities for cardboard and plastic at the Vine Tree pub in Norton.

Oaksey: Investigate possible off-street parking in the village. Opposition to further housing development at the Cotswold Water Park. Investigate providing extra facilities such as a tennis court in the village.

St Paul Malmesbury Without: To work with Malmesbury Town Centre Forum to promote local businesses and tourism via a range of guides and directories. Enhance and preserve the nature reserve in Corston for use by all members of the community.

Sherston and Sopworth: Old school site to be utilised for business or employment by 2007. Assess the extent of unreported crime; identify sites for dog bins and signs, seek approval and finance from district council.