Good community spirit
Friendly and safe
Own town council
Conservation Area
Awareness of the need to rejuvenate the area
A number of initiatives already begun
A number of vibrant businesses
Good schools
Positive support from the secondary school
Grade I listed church.
Supportive voluntary organisations
The Link
Good relations with the press
Excellent library facilities
Good small town supermarket
Range of pubs, restaurants and take-aways
Good car parks
Free parking
4 miles from the River Thames
Swindon 's gateway to the Cotswolds
6 miles from an urban centre
Range of listed dwellings in close proximity to the town centre
Close to NT village of Coleshill
Good bus service
Saturday market
Good churches
Sports facilities
Floral displays
Community policing |
A significant number of empty shops
Public perception that youth is unruly
HTC lacks a strategic plan (no overall vision)
A large number of people and properties to consider
HTC has limited powers
HTC has no budget for large scale projects
Limited range of shops
Half day closing
The need to consult with a range of officers at SBC
No power to persuade property owners to work towards a ‘Better Highworth'
Perception of Highworth as a dormitory town
Population tend to shop elsewhere
Highworth not in most ‘Cotswold' literature
Lack of data
Some traffic congestion
Perceived levels of litter and vandalism
Poor levels of policing
Parking
Limited activities for adults and young people
|
Create a ‘tourist town', with opportunities such as ‘The Secret War' or ‘The Betjeman Stroll' or ‘Town Trail' or ‘Tunnels under Highworth'
Refurbish conservation area/High Street
Create a floral town
Farmers' market
Saturday activities to enhance Saturday market
Have an officer based at SBC responsible for developments in Highworth
Encourage a wider range of businesses to invest in the town
Engage with the ‘dormitory population'
Work in close co-operation with SBC
Swimming and diving pool
More resources for young people
Better play areas
Improve publicity about Highworth
Higher profile community policing |
Apparent historical antipathy of SBC towards HTC
HTC functional but not innovative
General apathy of population
Insufficient budget to carry out improvements
Not seen as a priority by SBC
Possibility of piecemeal organisation by HTC/SBC
Resistance to change by one or more groups
Lack of cooperation from property owners |
