YOUR AREA – YOUR VIEWS – Still time to take part in Fort William Consultation
Over 300 people living in the Lundavra catchment area of Fort William have already taken the opportunity to share their views by completing a comprehensive survey looking at what it is like to live in the area.
The Fort William Community Action Group* has invited residents and business in the catchment area for Lundavra Primary School (which includes Upper Achintore, Plantation, An Aird, Achintore Road/Seafield Gardens, Belford Road, Cameron Road, Alma Road, Victoria Road and the High Street) to share their opinions on transport links, how safe the area feels, the environment, facilities, services and amenities, local employment, housing and opportunities to participate in and influence community life. Local businesses have also been invited to take part in the survey giving valuable feedback on such areas as recruitment challenges.
Residents and businesses have been highlighting the good work of the Fort William Town Team (a local voluntary group) in helping keep Fort William High Street and surrounding areas looking nice, the positive improvements that have taken place with the Cameron Square redevelopment and other areas and the increase in the variety of shops as well as the increase in housing development that has taken place in recent years.
Some of the areas for improvement so far being highlighted include: the need for better maintenance of existing pathways in and around Upper Achintore and the Plantation areas, more and better signed cycle routes, the need for a community centre and more local shops in Upper Fort William; improvements to the look of the back area of the High Street (view from Loch); the lack of businesses/industry able to offer all year round employment opportunities; the need for more and improved green spaces and play areas in the town and Upper Achintore; improvement to run down/empty shops; rectification of ‘staining’ on re-clad houses; parking and traffic congestion.
The survey is open until the 31st March so there is still time to have your say.
The information that comes back will help inform the development and implementation of a local action plan to address areas requiring improvement to help tackle inequality.
The Action Group are encouraging people to complete this survey on-line using the web link
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/How_good_is_my_place
It is also available in paper copy from Highland Council Service Point and Fort William library.
This is your chance to have your say and make a difference.
*Highland Council, NHS Highland, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are working with many other organisations with the aim being to address inequalities. Similar work is already underway in Caol and Kinlochleven. Within Lochaber, these three communities have been identified as currently experiencing higher levels of inequality, hence agencies and partners focussing efforts on them. A ‘community action’ group has been formed in each of these areas led by a partner agency working with community and agency representatives.