Is Penkridge a town?   Some people in this community think it is;  some people think it always has been.  There is lots of evidence from our recent and distant past that Penkridge was a Town.  I believe Penkridge people should decide themselves whether they believe it is a Town now and whether they want it to continue to be one.  Central Government departments, like The Countryside Agency (CA) and the Regional Development Agency (RDA), are looking hard into revitalising Market Towns and are providing them with grant schemes and other help.  I believe we should therefore be discussing our status ourselves.  Other agencies and interests are - shouldn't we be too?  We surely have the greatest vested interest!

To start things off, I am reproducing below an extract from The Countryside Agency document "Towards tomorrow's countryside - A strategy for the Countryside Agency", which was published earlier this year.  I think it could form the basis of a discussion on this Web Site's FORUM.   Bevan Craddock (Town! Crier). 

STOP PRESS - District Council confirm Penkridge is now designated as a Market Town.  =====================================================================================

Market Towns - revitalising rural service centres for the wider countryside

The issues
Traditionally, market towns have been at the heart of life in rural England.  For centuries they have acted as focal points for commercial and social activity, places in which to find work, to buy or sell goods, or to find valued specialist services.   However, in the last 50 years many of these functions have been changed - reflecting changes in society, industry and agriculture.  The last 20 years have seen a revolution in food delivery, with large volume retail food outlets now concentrated away from market town centres.

Many market towns are in urgent need of revitalisation.  The shops may no longer provide all that local people need.  Professional services have relocated to larger centres away from country areas.  Traditional public transport may no longer provide the means to serve those living in the countryside around market towns.

Country towns need to change to meet the future needs of a rapidly changing society, not only for the people who will live in those towns, but also for those who live in the villages and countryside around.  There is an opportunity for country towns to support the rural economy.

Action
The Agency will help to revitalise declining market towns, working in partnership with regional development agencies, local authorities, local communities and other partners such as the Civic Trust and Action for Market Towns.

The Agency will establish a national "health check" to help local authorities examine the economic, social and environmental health of market towns.  This will help identify danger signals.  For towns in need of action, we will promote an intensive community planning process involving local people, local government, relevant agencies and experts.  In this way, we will promote civic leadership, better governance, business networks and self determination.  Implementing the agreed vision will be for a local partnership of public, private and voluntary organisations, working with the Regional Development Agency, to focus funding where it is most needed.

We will identify a beacon towns network of about 20 towns demonstrating a range of different problems and challenges, and show how they have been tackled.  We will also lead a best practice programme of publications, training events and a website.

The Agency will bring its own grant schemes to market towns - especially those with implementation plans.  For example, market towns will become one focus for Rural Transport Partnerships;  efforts to identify affordable housing sites could also be targeted on market towns.

Our goal is to bring a new lease of life to market towns so that they provide convenient access to the services that surrounding rural communities depend on - retail and professional services, training and jobs, leisure and cultural opportunities.

Our principles

• Market towns should be the basis of sustainable rural communities in the future.
• Local communities in market towns and their surrounding hinterlands should have a say in the future of their local towns.
• The revitalisation of market towns should improve people's quality of life and equal opportunity to access essential services, jobs and goods, and the diversity and vitality of regenerated rural economy.

====================================================================================

The full document "Towards tomorrow's countryside - A strategy for the Countryside Agency" published in January 2001 can be obtained from the Countryside Agency Publications, PO Box 125, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7EP.  Email: countryside@twoten.press.net

To find out more about the work of The Countryside Agency, visit their website:  www.countryside.gov.uk