Jane Baker, of Chudleigh Road, Kingsteignton, writes:

We were invited to take part in a visioning exercise for Kingsteignton in the Town Hall on August 5. It was unexpectedly positive and uplifting.

Seven tables of residents, councillors, representatives from local businesses, council officers, specialists in urban design, education, minerals, transport, environmental health, affordable housing were taken through a visioning process of how we would like to see Kingsteignton in 15 years' time. We were given postcards to write saying why it was great to live here. We gave our best hopes.

Starting from where we wanted to get to then helped us think about how we are going to get there.

Most tables wanted a proper town centre/focus/gravitational point for the community to meet, play, have fun and shop for local produce.

We wanted a new primary school, lots of cycle paths for safe travel and a more intelligent transport infrastructure, more local jobs with a thriving local economy and much better communication.

The ideas divided themselves into those that were about buildings, roads/paths, green spaces and infrastructure and those about people and our relationship with each other, the community spirit.

Where would we put the new primary school? Where will the new town centre be? What needs to go, and what needs to stay? How do we communicate better with each other? How can we get to know each other better? How do we improve trust in our community? What kind of new housing will be positively encouraged? Where will new businesses and social enterprises operate from? How can we safeguard and improve our green spaces?

Great food for thought. A steering committee (Kingsteignton Community Plan Implementation Group) is meeting to make sure they represent the wishes of Kingsteignton residents and have started the steps towards the vision of our preferred future.