A BLUEPRINT for the future of Tavistock will be launched at a special presentation evening in the town hall next Wednesday.
The Towns Alive document, worked up over a series of meetings with local businesses and community leaders during the last year, represents 1,600 hours of work and includes a wishlist of some 15
priorities.
These include major schemes like the re-opening of the rail link between Tavistock and Plymouth, better sports facilities and an extension of the relief road, to simple bulb planting projects and a signs audit.
John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward which spearheaded the Towns Alive programme, said: 'I genuinely believe the town has been too fragmented in the past.
'This is a real opportunity to put foot and mouth behind us and take the town forward, with all the local organisations working together for the benefit of the whole community.'
Mr Taylor said the Rural Development Agency, members of whom will attend the launch, are giving grant money to several rural market towns like Okehampton — he hopes the Towns Alive document will persuade the RDA that the Tavistock area deserves funding.
'We are hoping this scheme will actually become a model for the market towns initiative in the South West,' said Mr Taylor.
The launch is due to take place at 7pm on July 4 — there will be a short introduction by marketing specialist Graham Vallis, followed by a presentation from several of the businesses actively involved in producing the Towns Alive plan.