Deputy Tindall, President of the Development & Planning Authority, welcomed everyone to the workshop before the Planning Service explained how Community Plans can work.

Having heard the basics on Community Plans, David Falla, Chamber of Commerce Industry Lead for Infrastructure, then spoke about his experience of creating a Community Plan for St Peter Port, The Bridge and St Sampson. Concentrating on St Peter Port, David explained the foundations of the vision and the five key themes for the area which underpinned their Community Plan. He also shared his recommendations on how best to start a Community Plan.

It was then the chance for attendees to create their own Plan. Each table was given a Local Centre (Cobo, Forest, L’Aumone, L’Islet, St Martins, St Peters) and were asked initially to come up with their five shared values such as ‘Enhancing accessibility for all to the beach’ and ‘Enhancing the opportunity for retail and community amenities’. The next stage was exploring what could be included in a Community Plan and then, using a large map and various objects, start putting the ideas into a Plan. At the end, all those who wanted to carry on with the discussion and join a group for a pilot Community Plan, were asked to express their interest in doing so to the Planning Service.

Deputy Dawn Tindall, President of the Development & Planning Authority, said the event was a "great success".

"The diverse group allowed us to have some open and honest conversations on a range of topics, including traffic flow, whether pedestrians and other road users should be given more priority and the need for amenities in each area. Local Centres were used for this activity, but it is important to remember that Community Plans can be created in a wide variety of area of differing sizes."

People can submit expressions of interest for pilot Community Plans to planning@gov.gg.

Pictured top: the event took place on Tuesday 1 October.