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 has continued to be employed to concentrate on the main priorities of the town centre development and the new community centre. Earlier in the year (2009) she led a major review of the partnership's work since 2003 and a new action plan for the future was developed.

Carterton Fast Forward Review

In July 2003, Fast Forward Towards 2010 was published, which was the Action Plan for Carterton, and the culmination of nine months of intensive research and development of ideas for projects, to improve the vitality of the town. Since then a great deal has happened: not all the proposals have all been achieved, but others, not anticipated, have also happened. Of the original 45 projects, 33 have been wholly or partially completed. The Town Council felt it was time to take stock, and so a programme of work to review what had been achieved and learnt, and to identify future projects, was agreed to be carried out over the first half of this year. A full report on what has been achieved is available on request, and can also be viewed here.

There was a period of consultation, which started with a seminar in April 2009 for representatives of key local organizations and partners (a report of the seminar may be viewed here). This was followed by wider consultation, with the project manager speaking to a range of organisations ranging from U3A to the Youth Council (CFF Review Report). At the same time a new Delivery Plan was prepared (may be viewed here)which was considered by the Town Council before finally being published. Alongside this process, more up-to-date statistics about Carterton have been gathered and can be viewed (here).