A DOCUMENT setting out what the hopes and aims of the future of Romsey for the next 30 years has been given the thumbs up.

Civic chiefs have given the seal of approval to a 12-page document setting out the aims which community leaders hope will shape Romsey for the next generation.

Created by town action group Romsey Future, it sets out the direction where representatives from scores of organisations across the town want it to go.

For the past two years the organisations which make up Romsey Future – which come from the voluntary, business and statutory sectors – have been meeting to “help influence and shape the town for many years to come”.

Test Valley Borough Councillor Martin Hatley has been chairing the group and presented the document to Test Valley Borough Council’s cabinet.

Daily Echo:

The full council gave the backing to the document at last Thursday's meeting at Crosfield Hall.

It means that civic chiefs at Test Valley Borough Council will be “informed by what people in Romsey are saying”.

Other organisations, such as Romsey Town Council and Romsey Extra Parish Council has signed up to it so far. Church and community groups have also signed up to it.

Mark Edgerley described it as so “high level it does it with broad brush strokes”.

“It’s all about making Romsey the sort of place that the people who live in it want it to be,” he said.

The document says it is a “plan of action” to help Romsey remain “a vibrant and thriving market town”.

“It is an exciting time for our town with lots of opportunities coming as a result.

“However, change also brings challenges and it is therefore important that we have a shared vision for the town so that we can manage the challenges and the opportunities as they emerge.”

Cllr Hatley said: “I am very grateful to the community of Romsey and the many representatives of the town’s organisations that have helped make this a true partnership document.

“I must also thank the Test Valley Borough Councillors for Romsey and Romsey extra who have played significant part in the process.”

He added: “I’m very pleased that the cabinet has confirmed their stamp of approval for this document and I hope and trust that the full council will do likewise.

“The council wants to know what the wishes of Romsey and Romsey Extra are and then they can hopefully fulfil as many of those wishes as they can.”