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Calling the Business Community - It's Time to Plan

Time to Plan is a campaign aimed at getting local people and interests engaged in planning for the future of the Mendip District. If community planners can get a good understanding the views of communities about the places where they live, work or visit,

Mendip District Council and the Mendip Strategic Partnership have sought to engage the community at large to seek their views on various issues and options.

 It is essential that  a clear view from the business community is gained because the long term health of the local economy  is critical to the prosperity and wellbeing of the area. 

Although current trends are disappointing,  this piece of planning work is looking much further ahead into the future, and will include a focus on planning for recovery and the next economic cycle.
 
What sort of things can businesses comment on ?

The consultation covers a wide range of issues on a place by place basis as well as more general approaches which might be applied across the whole area.  The ones you will have read about in the press relate to selecting areas of land for new housing, business uses and community facilities.

We have included the points below  to give a flavour of matters where we are really seeking help from the business community:

What type of land and premises do we need to earmark and encourage to meet the longer term needs of the local economy and major employers ?

• Where are those land resources best located ?

• What types of support can we encourage to enable small and rurally based business to grow ?

• How and where should we be working with other agencies to provide the right skills for the local economy ?

• What approaches can we pursue to maximise tourism expenditure locally ?

• Would you support some of the town centre redevelopments suggested and what business opportunities do they offer ?

• What parts of our town centres should be encouraged to grow and change

• Are there business specialisms in neighbouring areas which could be an opportunity for this area to support ?

• What economic activities could be applied, particularly in Frome, to make it easier for people to live and work without needing to commute out of the town?

How do you get involved ?
During December and January, views are sought in response to a consultation paper which draws together some of the key issues which we need to tackle in planning for the area.  In some cases we have identified options which we would like your views on, in others we have posed questions to allow relevant interests the scope to shape land use, public sector investment and infrastructure choices. 

All the information you need to participate can be accessed from the Time to Plan website although you can jump straight to the issues and questions via our online survey. If you would like the consultation material in a paper format or have any queries at all, please contact John Meeker (Tel. 01749 341506 / email - meekerj@mendip.gov.uk) who will be happy to help you. 

The closing date for your views is 29th January 2009. 
 

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