Great Yarmouth Borough Council seeks public feedback to help shape investment plans

Alongside Government grant support, the council is investing in the future of the borough and now wants to find out what people's priorities are and what matters to those who live, work, study, create, visit and do business locally.

As part of creating a strategic plan for the borough for the next five years the council has launched a range of activities to enable it to hear from as many residents, stakeholders, community organisations and businesses as possible.

The first step in the engagement process is an online survey in which people can say how they feel about a variety of issues and what is important for the future.

With a key focus on attracting further investment and driving economic regeneration, recovery and growth, the survey is just one of a number of actions that will help inform future spending priorities.

Once community feedback has been analysed, the council will produce a plan setting out its vision and priorities aligned to themes of safety and security, high streets, heritage and regeneration, and transport and connectivity.

This plan will sit alongside and build on the work that is underway or has been completed through successful funding programmes for the borough such as its Town Deal, Future High Streets fund and the Levelling Up Fund.

Natasha Hayes, Executive Director, Place, at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: ''We want to remain focused on strategies that will help us make a significant difference to the lives of our residents as we seek to raise aspirations and drive economic development across the borough.

''It is vital that we have a community-focused plan for how money should best be invested and that reflects the priorities residents consider to be important.

''That is why we are conducting an important and detailed series of activities to engage the community and provide input into how we shape our vision. I hope as many people as possible will participate in this process and look forward to seeing the results in due course.''

The council's regeneration strategy has seen ambitious projects already completed, such as the £26m Marina Centre on the town's seafront and the multi-million-pound covered market.

Other major projects informed by 'Our Place is Your Stage' include The Place - the new £17m library and learning hub in the former Palmers department store in Great Yarmouth which is due to open next year - the nationally significant National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported redevelopment of the Winter Gardens and the Operations and Maintenance Campus in South Denes.

The intention is that public input will be representative of the whole community and reflect the diversity of Great Yarmouth.

Communications experts Filigree have been commissioned to lead the engagement work and will be organising a range of activities to seek public feedback, including the new online survey, workshops, in-depth interviews with stakeholder groups and schools and colleges and a number of drop-in sessions.

The online survey can be found at https://surveys.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/community-engagement-survey and people are encouraged to complete it before it closes on Friday, June 21.

Drop-in sessions are being held at the following locations and people are urged to come along to share their views.

·       Thursday, June 13, 2pm-5pm - Cobholm Community Centre, St Luke's Terrace, Cobholm Rd, Great Yarmouth, NR31 0AP

·       Wednesday, June 19, 1pm-4pm / Six-Day Market, 70 Market Pl, Great Yarmouth, NR30 1LX

·       Friday, June 21, 10-1pm / Marina Leisure Centre (cafe), Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2ER

·       Tuesday, June 25, 10am-1pm / Shrublands Youth and Adult Centre, Magdalen Way, Gorleston Norfolk, NR31 7BP