Saxmundham

Public meeting on our Town Centre & Local Economy – Thursday 1st November, 7 p.m. Market Hall

Come and join us on Thursday 1st November at the Market Hall – tell us your thoughts and ideas on how to make Saxmundham a successful town – from the economic and social points of view.  We also want to hear what  sort of local policies  you feel we should be thinking about and proposing.  We hope to cover lots of issues including

• What sort of businesses, jobs and skills for the future? And where to be located?
• How to ensure that local people benefit?
• How can we make the Town Centre a lively, successful, attractive place for local people, businesses, & visitors?
• What needs to change, and what to be conserved?  
• What can we do together?

Entrance is free, and the meeting – which starts at 7 p.m. – should finish around 8.30 p.m.

The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group are organising this meeting in cooperation with the economic development team of Suffolk Coastal District Council, and with Saxmunbdham’s local business coordination group.  Neighbourhood Plans must work within the Local Plan’s broad policies, but can help put flesh on the bones by making them into practical policies.

The general Town Centre policies in the draft Local Plan

The first draft of the District Council’s Local Plan already proposed some Town Centre policies, aiming to strengthen the commercial and especially retail, service and entertainment functions of market towns – while preserving their historic character.

What do you think would help to make our town centre more successful for businesses, customers and residents generally?

An important goal in the draft Local Plan is to encourage people to spend more time, enjoy and participate in town centres, by:

“a) Supporting social interaction;

b) Ensuring safe pedestrian access to link up with and enhancing existing pavements, pedestrian spaces, routes and focal points;

c) Improving access for cyclists, people with limited mobility and people with other disabilities;

d) Enabling physical linkages so that pedestrians can move easily and safely between parts of the town centre; and

e) Providing environmental improvements that make the most of historic environments.”

Do we agree with these, and if so, how in practice can we make them work in Saxmundham?  

We look forward to seeing you at this event, and to a lively debate!