A MAJOR blueprint is being developed to shape the future of Pershore and residents are being urged to have their say on what the town should look like by 2030.
Following a packed public meeting in the town earlier this year, a voluntary committee has been set-up to develop Pershore’s very own Town Plan which will set out residents’ aspirations for the town over the next 13 years.
To start the work, the committee has secured funding from Pershore Town Council and from charitable organisations.
The committee, chaired by Michael Amies, have now begun to look at education, tourism, business, health, transport, the environment, sport, art and entertainment in Pershore and how it can be developed and improved.
And in order to reflect the views of the whole of the community, residents are being urged to have their say on what the town should aspire to achieve, and ways of improving the town for future generations.
It’s hoped the Town Plan will be published next year and adopted by Pershore Town Council and Wychavon District Council as a document to guide their future decision making.
Speaking to the Observer, the Chairman of the Town Plan steering committee, Michael Amies, said: “Too many plans are made by the ‘expert planners’ who, for all their expertise, do not always reflect what the people whose lives will be affected by the plans really feel and want.
“We hope that the Pershore Town Plan will be different and will take account of the feelings and wishes of the local population.
“We need to create a long-term view of Pershore towards which development plans can be directed so that they reflect the hopes of residents, and those from surrounding villages who are frequent visitors to our lovely town.
“To ensure that we take full account of local concerns, ideas and wishes, we shall be carrying out extensive consultation between now and September to gather views, summarise them, feed back conclusions and, if all goes well, produce a draft Pershore Town Plan by the end of the year.
“There is always room for more volunteers who would like to help us. Don’t miss this chance to determine the future of the place where you live,” he said.
Mayor of Pershore, Coun Bob Gillmor, said: “We’ve had a lot of help from the people who did the Evesham Town Plan, and what they told us is it needs to be the town’s plan, and not the Town Council’s plan.”
“Once it’s completed it will form an important guide for the future. It will provide some guidance of what people really want in the town, and what do residents think is missing.
Visit www.pershoretownplan.co.uk for more information on the plans and how to have your say.
