Looe residents are being urged to play their part in helping shape the future of their town by helping construct a framework for its growth and development over the next 20 years. Looe's involvement in the Market and Coastal Town Initiative is being hailed as a unique opportunity for the people of the town to discuss a range of issues and topics and to become personally invol-ved in the process of achieving a viable and sustainable community. The Government-funded initiative is being managed by Looe Town Forum with a steering group comprising local people, and has a part-time co-ordinator, John Evans, who already has experience of the process through his involvement in the Saltash Gateway MCTI. On Saturday the first step in a year-long process of consultation, leading to the production of a Strategic Community Plan, will take place in the Guildhall Council Cham-ber, East Looe, to which everyone with a stake in the future of the town is invited. Running from 10.30am until 4pm the 'Community Day' is intended to help raise awareness of the MCTI's aims and to encourage individuals who have already expressed an interest in becoming involved in the process of compiling the Plan and to recruit others. This will lead to the establishment of 'Theme Groups' whose task will be to take responsibility for specific objectives, prioritise issues and establish the necessary support required to see them through to completion. The event will also pave the way for a 'health check' which will measure feeling in the town, carring out three major surveys covering business, youth and community by asking questions relating to the economy, entertainment, social and community issues and transport and accessibility.

health check

The Strategic Comm-unity Plan will show how the people of Looe young, old, in business, employed or unemployed - want to see their town develop in the next five, ten and 20 years and will be the document to which funding bodies will refer over the coming years when considering support for Looe. Forum chairman John Charnock explained this week: 'The plan will draw on existing studies like the Catching the Tide visioning document, the Looe Waterfront Study and the Looe School Citizenship Day consultation to develop potential projects and a blue print for how the town could develop for the next generation.' He said the community day will enable people to find out what is involved, to fill a variety of important roles and, most important, to express their comments and views on a number of issues facing the town, such as the provision of quality year long jobs, improving access to services and the provision of affordable housing for locals. Potential projects could include youth facilities and even the restoration of the 100-year-old Looe built lugger the Billy Bray, recently returned to the port. The topics covered on Saturday will include projects and issues from a social, economic and environmental perspective, with sustainability a key issue throughout. The social theme will cover housing, health, community safety and access to services and facilities, ensuring a better quality of life for all the community whether young or old. The economic theme will address developing a prosperous economy with employment opportunities for all. Topics covered will include town regeneration and infrastructure, developing an all year round economy covering all sectors including tourism, fishing and retail. Training, upskilling and access to education are also important topics, especially for young people in the town. The environmental the-me will concentrate on protecting both the built and natural environment, street cleaning, flooding, toilets, seagulls, health, rubbish and the beach,while the transport and accessibility theme will embrace traffic management, disabled access, access to transport and car parking. Vice chair of Looe Town Forum Edwina Arkell said she and her colleagues wanted to be sure the entire community had their say. 'We particularly want to hear from the people who are house bound or feel excluded from decision making,' she said. 'If you want to get involved come along to the Guildhall and contribute your views - it's your town and you CAN make a difference.' Anyone who is unable to attend Saturday's Comm- unity Day or who would like more information on Looe MCTI is invited to contact Mr Charnock on 01503 262606.