West Sussex Market Town event highlights their vital role

14 July 2010

The importance of market towns in West Sussex is being highlighted at a special event featuring high profile speakers in Pulborough, organised by SERTP, Action in Rural Sussex and West Sussex County Council, on July 22.

'Market Towns in West Sussex: celebrating success, looking to the future' takes place at Bradbury Meeting Hall, Lodge Hill Centre, Watersfield. It will showcase the achievements of Community Partnerships, put market towns into the context of public sector policy and debate what support will be required in the future for market towns to thrive.

Deborah Urquhart, Cabinet Member for the Environment and the Economy, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) will speak about 'The Importance of Market Towns', followed by Mike de Lara (Arundel), Tony Jackson (Henfield), Paul Mackie (Storrington) and Patrick Perks (Billingshurst), all of whom have experience of Community Partnership projects. 'Market Towns in the context of service delivery and community planning' will be covered by Spencer Bryan, WSCC, and  Natalie Brahma-Pearl, Horsham District Council.

After lunch, discussion workshops will look at issues in market towns - a vibrant economy; the provision of services; the National Park; town centre regeneration and community involvement before SERTP Chair Frances Stokes closes the event. The event is free but places are limited.

For late bookings please see if there is space by getting in touch with Margaret Pedley, email market.towns@westsussex.gov.uk or call 01243 777107.