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Market and Coastal Towns Association
Background
The
Market and Coastal Towns Initiative is a regional programme
developed to address the specific needs of the region’s market and
coastal towns in recognition of their important role in the region’s
economic, social and environmental well being and future. The
importance of these towns has been previously documented in key
policies including the Rural White Paper, the Regional Economic
Strategy, the Countryside Agency's Market Towns Programme and
Regional Planning Guidance
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The Initiative was initially launched in 2001 in six pilot towns
but rapidly expanded to help the region meet the threats created
by Foot and Mouth. The majority of activity around the towns was
supported over several years by staff from the South West of
England Regional Development Agency before being passed to the
Market and Coastal Towns Association (MCTA).
The Association
The Market and Coastal Towns Association (MCTA) is an
independent organisation which supports the development of
vibrant, healthy and sustainable market and coastal towns across
the south west. Established in October 2004 and supported by a
range of regional organisations including the South West of
England Regional Development Agency and English Heritage, the
Association is charged with delivering the Market and Coastal
Towns Initiative throughout the region.
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James
Hassett at the MCTA Annual Conference 2007 |
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James
Hassett with Dr.Stuart Burgess, Rural Advocate at the MCTA
Annual Conference 2007 |
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For its part, the Association provides a package of support
measures to assist communities and their partners to plan for
their future, develop the necessary skills and create local
organisations which can drive the plan forward. The Association
employs five dedicated community facilitators who work across
the county areas delivering capacity building support -
providing professional information, guidance and training,
access to best practice and learning resources and a gateway
route to funding opportunities. The Association also provides
financial assistance to partnerships to enable the community
strategic plan to be produced. Funds can be used to support the
following types of activity:
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Capacity Building
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Training
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Consultation
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Publicity and Promotion
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The
Association was awarded a Royal Town Planning Institute Award for
Community Planning in 2004.
The Initiative
The
Initiative is an innovative community based regeneration programme
for market and coastal towns and their surrounding areas which
enables and empowers local people to
articulate their views on the future of their communities. It
is as such led by and driven forward by the communities themselves
and requires all those involved to think and work differently. At
the heart of the Initiative is the preparation by local people of a
long term community strategic plan covering the social, economic,
environmental and cultural futures of their towns and surrounding
rural area and the provision of support to enable plans to be
implemented.
The Market and Coastal Towns Initiative:
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Is
a
long term vision
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is
a strategic approach to a community’s future
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Is about the active and meaningful involvement of
communities
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Is about building community skills and partnership
working
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Is about rooting the work and skills within the
community
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is
about practical help and advice
The Market and Coastal Towns Initiative:
Further Information
Market
and Coastal Towns Association
East
Reach House
East
Reach
Taunton
TA1
3EN
Tel:
01823 250815
E-mail: info@mcti.org.uk
www.mcti.org.uk
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