A COMBINED community approach to create an action plan for Newton abbot to bring the concerns and ideas of already successful groups together is gelling.
For years community spirit in some areas of Newton Abbot has been sadly lacking, yet in others successful residents' organisations have flourished.
Now the wind of change is blowing through the town and, in paving the way for quality council status, Newton Abbot Town Council is looking to set up a community strategy.
the council is throwing the ball into the residents' court in an attempt to gain maximum input.
This month saw the first meeting of the community strategy discussion group, chaired by Cllr Ken Lewis.
He said that one of the big problems was whether the council really carriedthe people with it.
'The whole idea of this strategy is for everybody to get together. We want to make sure as a caring council that we provide as much as we can of what people require.
'We would like to get a group of people together, not led by the council, to see what Newton Abbot needs. It has happened successfully in other councils who are generally smaller parishes,' he said.
Cllr Lewis said Newton Abbot should be the vibrant heart of Teignbridge.'We want to hear from as many people as we can, whether it is residents associations, chamber of trade, citizens advice bureau, etc, etc. It is going to be grass roots driven,' he added.
The community strategy group also involved Cllrs Anne Fry and Daphne Watts, town clerk Rod Tuck, and Devon County Council officers Roger Grainger and Caroline Ray, who referred to the Teignbridge Community Strategy draft.
Mr Tuck said the town council would be looking at the same themes as Teignbridge: 1) access and transport; 2) business and employment opportunities; 3) communications; 4) developing communities; 5) healthy living and access to healthcare; 6) learning and skills; 7) leisure and recreation; 8) looking after the environment; 9) meeting people's needs; 10) voluntary and community organisations.