Breadcrumbs
New on-line updates for countryside agency’s Market Towns toolkit – 5 February 2002
This internet based toolkit provides advice for communities who want to do things that will revitalise their town.
In line with the Countryside Agency’s remit to help bring life back into England’s market towns, the Toolkit includes new guidance for communities based on experience learned from the Agency’s Market Towns Initiative.
New pages contain sections on business support and transport. Transport issues are high on the agenda for market towns and the Toolkit includes new advice, details of related organisations and information on sources of funding from both the Countryside Agency and other organisations.
The Market Towns Healthcheck, which identifies economic, social and environmental needs according to the strengths and weaknesses of both the town and its surrounding countryside has also been improved. New sources of funding have been added and there is up-to-date information about how the Market Towns Initiative operates in all regions.
105 towns have now signed up to receive financial support from the Agency’s Market Towns Initiative. Many have appointed co-ordinators to help them carry out a Healthcheck. People from all sectors of the community are being encouraged to take part in this process and develop a vision for their own future.
The Countryside agency is keen to see all market town communities complete a Healthcheck and it has made the Toolkit available to everyone. “The Toolkit is a great way to deliver the information required by market town communities. We review it on a regular basis as we learn more about the role of market towns and ensure that details such as new funding sources are kept up-to-date ” said John Burns, head of the Agency’s Market Towns Team.
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Notes to editors:
For further information or an interview with John Burns please contact Nigel Ellway at the Countryside Agency on 020 7340 2907 or mobile 07900 608 204.
The Countryside Agency is responsible for advising government and taking action on issues affecting the social, economic and environmental well being of the English countryside. www.countryside.gov.uk
The Market Towns Initiative
The Countryside Agency launched the Market Towns Initiative in May 2001. It aims to bring a new lease of life to market towns so that they provide convenient access to the services that surrounding rural communities depend on - retail and professional services, training and jobs, leisure and cultural opportunities.
The Initiative consists of:
- financial support for 140 towns who carry out a healthcheck, including funding for local co-ordinators to help these communities carry out healthchecks and prepare action plans, teams of professionals to advise them throughout the process, and local project managers to deliver action plans.
- partnerships with regional development agencies, local authorities and others to help deliver action plans.
- a national best practice (learning) network, drawing on the experiences of the 140 towns (10-20 of which will be identified as 'beacons') to provide practical examples for others.
- financial assistance for Action for Market Towns, a membership organisation which supports local communities in market towns.
The Market Towns Toolkit
The Toolkit can be found at www.countryside.gov.uk/market-towns. It contains the following pages:
- Market Towns Healthcheck
- Market Towns Worksheets
- Regional Directory
- Funding Directory
- Business Support Directory
- Transport Directory
- Training Directory
- Contacts Directory
- Research Directory
- Community Participation Directory
- Data Sources & Survey Methods Directory
