Introduction

Between Autumn 2002 and Spring 2003 Carterton undertook a Market Town Health Check (the Carterton Check) supported by The Countryside Agency. This did not, as the name suggests, just concentrate on health issues, but gathered information, identified gaps in provision, and suggested projects and actions on a wide range of issues ranging from environmental improvements to developing more shops in the town centre.

These ideas were brought together in the action plan 'Carterton Fast Forward Towards 2010' containing over 45 projects and actions to support and increase the vitality of the community, which was published in July 2003. In September that year Catherine Chater was appointed Project Manager for 3 years, to work with the community to implement the action plan. In January 2004 Carterton was one of only 3 market towns in the south east to be awarded Beacon Market Town Status by the Countryside Agency for its work.

A number of working groups were established around specific projects to support the work of the Project Manager.

Since 2006 the Project Manager continued to be employed to concentrate on the main priorities of the town centre development and the Carterton Community Centre. In 2009 she led a major review of the partnership's work. Since 2003 a great deal had happened: not all the proposals had been achieved, but others, not anticipated, had also happened. Of the original 45 projects, 33 had been wholly or partially completed. A programme of work to review what had been achieved and learnt, and to identify future projects, was agreed and carried out over the first half of 2009, and a new delivery plan was published later in the year see here

Annual Report 2011/12

The Current Review

Over the past two years significant changes have taken or are taking place both in Carterton and the county as a whole.

The CFF Partnership has secured a modest grant once more to review progress and bring forward new projects, taking account of local and national developments.

This process started early in 2012. So far the Project Manager has reviewed the success of the existing plan, and the groups working on the Economy, Transport and the Town Centre have considered progress and suggested how to roll forward the plan.

A draft plan has now been completed and can be viewed here. Comments are welcomed and should be emailed to cchater@carterton-tc.gov.uk or sent to Catherine Chater at the Town Hall.




Photograph: Tan Marchant