Below is a copy of the latest report on Town Action Plan Projects

TO:� ALL WHITCHURCH TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS - PROJECT REPORT

FROM: Tony Corbin � Town Project Officer HCC (for and on behalf of WA/TAPT) 2^nd November 2006��

Dear Councillors and WA Trustees

Please find below summary of the main activities, request for support (WTC and WA Trustees) and report of WA Town Action Plan Project Activities.

1. SEEDA Rural Towns Programme Bid � Thank you for reviewing and endorsing the proposals. The preliminary bid was presented to the SEEDA Hampshire Market Towns Panel (HMTP) on 25^th September in Winchester by Stewart Parrington and I. As a number of you may already know, the stage one bid was approved and we have the green-light to proceed with the detailed (costed) 2^nd stage bid � potentially to be submitted by February/March 2007. I say potentially, because the bid forms part of the overall Town Centre Improvement Project which specifically will require BDBC to �underwrite� the WA bid to comply with the SEEDA contractual terms for such Town Partnership led initiatives. Meantime, work on drawing up the final list of schemes is underway with the next Steering Group meeting expected to agree the final list.

2. CIW 2006� � The plans are now well advanced and include arrangements for installing the Christmas Tree Brackets (thanks to Cllr Jackman for his offer of help) � we have around 15 stalls for the Christmas Market 16^th Dec in the Parish Hall and a kiddies funfair that will be staged in the White Hart car park area. Thank you to the Mayor for agreeing to switch on the lights (now 3.45 pm 9^th Dec) and to announce the best dressed window judging results. (Is the Mayor or alternatively the Chair of WA available 16^th December to present the prize (12 noon) in the Parish Hall for the �odd one out competition? The calendar of events is being prepared for the website (www.thewhitchurchweb.org) , there are posters and press releases planned, Parish Magazine coverage plus issue late November of a special CIW Community magazine. It has been proposed that profits will go to the Mayor�s fund. ACTION: It would be much appreciated if the Mayor could review the draft article prepared by Stewart Parrington which will go on the front page of the magazine urging residents to support etc. Similarly it is hoped that Members will lead by example and �shop locally in Whitchurch� this Christmas themselves. Meantime, WA will have a stall at the Parish Hall promoting the Community Hall

3. Town Centre Revitalisation � The mystery shopping survey results were presented to retailers on 5^th October. There were wide variations (the information is confidential at individual shop level) but overall Whitchurch did better than some of the other ten Hampshire Towns taking part. Plans are afoot for follow up mentoring and training all heavily subsidised by the programme. The Whitchurch Welcome Pack is also complete � this will be issued by Redwoods and Brockenhurst to their clients and it is proposed that copies will also go into the Library, Town Hall etc in due course

4. Heritage Display - The library interior layout was presented at the meeting held on 18^th October. Areas have been allotted for local Heritage display

Finally, just to remind everyone that my contract comes to an end on 31^st December, though I fully expect to be able to provide input and support to the SEEDA bid in the NewYear . It is anticipated that Jim Seamons will produce the Monthly TAPG report from January onwards as part of his liaison duties between WA Trustees and the Town Action Project Teams.

Kind Regards

(Merged) Initiative	Project Charter	Sub Group Members Leader in bold (= Co opted) <Cllr>	Aim and Current Status
1. Business Development, Town Centre Revitalisation and Tourism	Tourism: � Encourage More Visitors to the Town � Increase spend in the Town � Raise Town Profile	Stewart Parrington Phil Cooper Harriet Titcomb (Derek Verran) (Stephen Bryer) John Buckley Tony Corbin Keith Watts (BLWx) (Brockenhurst � Comm�l Agency) (Testbourne Bus Forum members) (Local Retailers)	Aim - Target by end 2006 - Town Guide, Heritage Leaflet and Circular Walks reprint/update all cross-referencing further information on the Whitchurch Web. 30^th Nov. meeting determined priorities, which include identifying sponsor/funding for new Heritage Leaflet (see also �Heritage� project below) and Town Guide. Status � Excellent meeting with Tourism SE on 6^th September confirmed their support and belief that Whitchurch can be more strongly marketed as a Tourism destination. Provision of �brown� Tourist signs on the A34,, a Town amenities Guide, enhanced signage and heritage trail form part of the SEEDA element of the Town Centre Project Bid.
	Business & Town Centre: � Revitalisation of Town centre � Encourage residents to �shop locally� � Improve appearance of Town Centre � More Town Events � Establish Traders Association � Skills Development � Marketing/Business Development		Aim - By Mid 2006 � Develop Bid for HCC Country Towns Initiative and LTP 2� (circa �100k) and B&DBC POPPI circa �20k (Pride of Place Partnership Initiative) and �100k of SEEDA RTP matched funds potentially available for qualifying built environment enhancement & related Town Centre Revitalisation projects. Status � 1^st stage WA Bid to SEEDA HMTP on 25^th September was successful. A list of 27 possible schemes (work-packages has been reviewed by officers and the resulting shortlist is currently out to Steering Group members for comment. It is anticipated that the final list might be agreed at the next Steering Group meeting at the end Nov. Beyond this, the schemes will need to be costed and put to the local community for comment (prioritisation within the funds expected to come available in 07/08)
Traffic Management Traffic Mgt (cont)	Traffic Mgmt Projects: a) Reduced HGV through traffic volumes b) Distinctive Town Gateway Entry Signs and associated BDBC funded traffic calming scheme	Tony Corbin (for Derek Verran) (Keith Watts) (Reg Kimpton) (Keith Pauw HCC) <Cathy Burt> John Wall Greg Harris Susan Flawith <Cllr B. Jackman> Harriet Titcomb Tony Corbin (Jamie Daly B&DBC)	Aim - Start Jan 05, Survey April 05; Report Presentation Sep 05; Actions agreed Jan 06 Status � Group reviewed and submitted proposals (copied WTC) related to BDBC Parking proposals There was no time at the June meeting to discuss HGV follow up. The project has not progressed further following the reporting of the findings of the HCC HGV Survey. Aim - Start Jan 05; Agree design Apr 05 Status: The agreed scheme is now progressing through the various statutory processes associated with speed restriction changes.
New Library Local Heritage Display and IT Facilities	Local Heritage Centre � Accessible display and educative centre for local artefacts IT/Internet Public access: � Increase number of individual Learning and Information access points	Harriet Titcomb Deborah Woodland Dr. Alison Deveson Tony Corbin <Cllr. A Wall> John Mariner (History Soc) Russell Cleaver (HCC R&H) Hector Goldsack Sarah Gray (R&H Library Service) Phil Cooper	AIM - Start Dec 05 Finish Jan 07 (opening of Ctty Centre). Agree aims; recruit volunteers; agree and cost solution; develop lottery bid Status � Meeting 18^th October reviewed the planned interior layout of the library. Display cabinets etc need to be funded by WA (e.g. maybe by Grant application to BDBC) � AIM � Increase the provision of publicly accessible Internet Terminals Status � Confirmed that six PC�s to be included in new library design one of which enables access to Hampshire Record Office facilities (Family History tracing etc).
Time Capsule Project	Community Centre � Capsule to �freeze the present for posterity including the aspirations of the young in the Town	Harriet Titcomb Local Schools WA Trustees <Town Council>	AIM � Include a Plaque and capsule within the new Community Building that reflects current life and times in Whitchurch to be opened in 100 years time Start date......Spring 06 Estimated� finished date......by Spring 07. Status The schools have the acid free paper and are in the process of writing their future hopes and dreams down. Details will be added to the website during November
EIGHT Comms	Communications Project: � House Style for WA materials � Web site inc open forum for feedback � Internal/external and stakeholder comms model	Phil Cooper John Buckley (Steve Hoffmann) <Cathy Burt> Tony Corbin	AIM - Start Jun 05; Launch website Oct 05. Launch Magazine Spring 06 Status - Website (www.thewhitchurchweb.org) launched Oct as planned and being increasingly used by community and local businesses. Now contains Tourism pages New Whitchurch Web Community Magazine (quarterly) 1^st edition, including contribution from the Mayor, now being distributed late November (deferred to coincide with CIW).