Leighton-Linslade’s first Community Forum meeting will see the public unite with local authorities and groups to help improve the town centre by working in partnership.
Leighton-Linslade Town Council and Central Bedfordshire Council’s joint venture will focus on the theme You and Your Town Centre in the first of three meetings due to be held in 2013.
It is hoped people in Leighton-Linslade will be encouraged to give their views on the town centre and voice what works, what could be improved and what would encourage people to ‘shop local first’.
Andrew Selous MP, who will be chairman of the upcoming event, says he is ‘delighted’ to have been asked to be involved and believes it is an important way of reaching the public.
Mr Selous said: “I am very much in favour of this Community Forum meeting.
“It is very important that all the town councillors and Central Beds councillors know what local people are thinking.
“We can’t do everything that everyone wants, so I hope people come with a constructive and realistic frame of mind because some of the issues we are discussing are subject to legislation.
“But we want development in the town, which is very much in line with local people.”
After some brief opening remarks about the town centre, attendees will be invited to break into smaller groups to discuss various aspects within the town.
This will include events and leisure, litter and environment, access and parking, heritage and tourism, shopping and market.
This is an opportunity for anyone living or working in the town to find out future plans for the town centre and to give their views on what changes or improvements are needed.
Mr Selous added: “It is an opportunity to try and integrate as much as possible and people who come along to these meetings often have really good ideas.
“I am always struck by the quality of ideas I hear from individuals who I meet from the town.
“This is the perfect opportunity for people to come together and explain their thoughts and the best ones will be taken forward.”
The feedback obtained on the day will be used to help create a Town Centre Action Plan and the Partnership Committee.
This is a joint committee comprising of five town councillors and five Central Bedfordshire councillors who will consider projects for inclusion in its Work Plan for the next year.
The meeting will be held on Saturday, February 9 at the Leighton Buzzard Theatre and will run from 10am to approximately 12noon.