THE Crediton Heart Project has launched a consultation to find out what local people think about its plans to develop a new multi-use building which will provide space, resources and opportunities for community groups and small businesses.

Five thousand leaflets have been distributed in venues, shops, churches, pubs, cafes and schools in the town and surrounding villages. The leaflets, which outline the plans, include a questionnaire asking people to say if and how they would use a new community building.

“This building will only happen if people really want it. So we need to know now what sort of spaces people need and what activities they would like to see happening,” explained Rosemary Stephenson, chair of the Crediton Heart Project.

“The more people who tell us what they think, the better the needs of the whole community will be reflected in our plans.”

Set up last year by local volunteers, the Crediton Heart Project is a not-for-profit organisation working to keep the heart in Crediton as the town expands.

It aims to do this by promoting and supporting our vibrant arts scene, community groups and local enterprise.

In February the Crediton Heart Project was awarded a £10,000 Lottery grant, to fund its consultation campaign and to employ a top level consultant and marketing experts to develop the plans further.

The grant has enabled the group to use the consultation website, Commonplace, where people can find out about the project and add their comments.

“Commonplace is more sophisticated than most online surveys and will enable us to gather and collate the views of far more people, especially the young and those living further away. It will make our consultation process more open, versatile and trustworthy,” explained Rosemary.

At a meeting in April to launch the project, attended by 28 community groups, there was wide support for the idea of a new website to promote our thriving town and its surrounding villages.

It could carry information about town and village events, room and venue hire and much more. The Crediton Heart team has already started work on fundraising to make this happen.

There was also much interest in the proposed multi-purpose building that would complement existing venues.

The group says this facility could offer much-needed space and resources to the diverse groups within our town; to young people, children’s groups and the elderly.

It adds that it could provide studio space for the creative arts and a shared workspace for local entrepreneurs.

It says it would support larger audiences for shows, musicals, film screenings and social occasions, adding that such a building would be self-sustaining, creating jobs and opportunities, not relying on grants.

To find out more and have your say about this ambitious project visit this website: www.creditonheartproposals.commonplace.is .

If you prefer paper, pick up a Crediton Heart Project leaflet and questionnaire in venues, shops, pubs and schools in and around the town. Drop off your completed questionnaire in one of the collection boxes at Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, Crediton Library, Crediton Tesco or Morrisons.

You can stay up-to-date with Crediton Heart by following the group on “Facebook”: www.facebook.com/CreditonHeartProject/ .

• Write a letter to the Crediton Courier or email your letter with your name, address and a daytime telephone number to: [email protected] .