Help to shape the future of Melton

The borough council is looking for big ideas to regenerate Melton and has commissioned consultants Taylor Young to come up with half a dozen ambitious flagship projects to transform the fortunes of the town centre.

And on Saturday, July 14 the council is staging an exhibition in the Market Place, from 10am to 3pm, providing an opportunity for people to see the various projects and discuss them with the team responsible for putting them together.

It will also be a chance for anyone interested in the town centre to have an input into which of the projects and activities are selected or disregarded.

Some ideas which have already been aired include:

*Creating a riverside walk and marina

*Building a central bus station in Windsor Street

*Developing Pera Innovation into a conference centre and Melton Cattle Market into an exhibition centre to maximise their potential; excess car parking would be used for affordable housing

*Relocating the library into Brooksby Melton College's annexe building in King Street

*Launching a major shopfront improvement scheme in Sherrard Street, using compulsory purchase orders if necessary

*Redeveloping the Bell Centre and opening up Norman Way and Wilton Road for retail to provide the larger units sought by big High Street names.

After the exhibition there will be a three-week period for consultation (ending on August 3), during which time the display will be transferred to the customer service centre at Melton Council offices.

The material will also be made available online or by calling the council on (01664) 502502.

Town centre champion, councillor Alison Freer, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for anyone with an interest in the town to have a say. We are looking forward to hearing the public's views and would encourage people to come along with ideas.

"We need to make sure we get it right for the masterplan to be a success, with everyone with a stake in the town to be in agreement with the long term projects that we can all work towards together, for the benefit of the town's future."

But some of the town's residents feel traffic issues should be tackled before attentions are turned anywhere else.

Paul Butt, of Melton, said: "Melton needs a ring road, it's that simple. A lot of people used to come to the town shopping but don't bother anymore because of the traffic and parking."

Steve Wills, of Melton, added: "The town just needs decent shops and a bypass as it's a pretty, friendly town.

"The council does not need consultants to tell them what we need, just ask the people."