View from the top of Beccles Bell Tower High Street, Market Place Picture: James Bass Eastern Daily Press © 2009 (01603) 772434

People in Beccles are being given the chance to shape the future of their community after a draft town plan was released.

The town council has published its draft plan for the town online and is asking for comments on their initial conclusions before compiling a final action plan.

The plan focuses on a wide range of aspects of town life including business, crime, culture, health, transport and education, with the thoughts of the council’s working party alongside comments from public consultations.

Among the areas highlighted are the need for a southern relief road, to take HGVs out of the town centre, and the possibility of a sports complex including an indoor swimming pool.

Public comments express a desire for free parking, concerns about ‘boy racers’ in Tesco’s car park, a 20mph zone in the town centre and a need to work on the vacant King’s Head pub, which is described as an “eyesore”.

The council decided to create the plan in July 2010 with the intention of providing future generations of the town with a blueprint outlining what is most important to the community, as well as needs and aspirations. A questionnaire was sent to every home in the town, while organisations were also asked to contribute, ahead of three consultation days in October.

Beccles mayor Graham Catchpole said: “Although well supported at the consultation events in October last year, we still need more input in order for this plan to represent the views of the people of Beccles and surrounding villages and to be taken seriously by the local authorities who serve the town.”

He added: “The draft town plan has been loaded onto the town council’s website in order to give the public another chance to tell us about their aspirations for the future of Beccles, and to also give us feedback on the plan so far.”

To view the draft plan visit www.beccles.info and send comments to the Town Clerk, Beccles Town Council, Town Hall, The Walk, Beccles, NR34 9AJ, or admin@beccles.info by September 30.

richard.wood@archant.co.uk