Market and Coastal Towns Initiative

St Austell Partnership was delighted to be told by the Market and Coastal Towns Association (MCTA) that its application to become one of the towns chosen for the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative (MCTI) for 2007 has been successful.

We were one of only three successful towns in Cornwall, the others being Liskeard and Bude.

The MCTA was set up in 2004 to help with community planning and is funded by the South West Regional Development Agency and English Heritage.

Its vision is to create Vibrant, Health and Sustainable Market and Coastal Towns.

Throughout the South West region 14 towns were supported by MCTA in 2004 with a further 10 in the current round.

A Market and Coastal Towns Initiative is a project taken on by a community with finance and help from the MCTA to establish and deliver a long term vision for that community.

It must involve people in the town and be community not Council driven although the local Council will be heavily involved, as there is a need to ensure that the MCTI is properly linked into statutory planning activity.

Help is given to produce a Plan covering the economic, social, cultural and environmental development of a town and its surrounding area, and to set up projects to take the plan forward.

Support is provided to take advantage of good practices established by local, regional, national and international experience.

The participants are taught how to get funding and given professional advice to implement projects and activities.

All projects have to meet strict criteria concerning environmental, economic and social impact.

This is a tremendous opportunity for local people to have an influence in how Their Town develops. We encourage all people to get involved.

For more information, please contact:-

The Engine House, 1 Trinity Street, St Austell, PL25 5LS

Telephone: (01726) 63077 / (01726) 63013

Email: tasha.davis@restormel.gov.uk or debbie.osborne@restormel.gov.uk

Monday 29th January 2007