A GROUP working to create a community-led vision for Witney has outlined its plans for the future.

Witney Vision held its first public meeting in the town last month and residents were given the opportunity to contribute their hopes and aspirations for the town.

At a meeting at the Corn Exchange on Wednesday, volunteers from the group covered what was raised in the previous meeting and revealed their long term strategy to reach out to the wider community and form a community-led plan by July 2018.

When completed, it is hoped the plan can be used to influence the town, district and county councils on decisions on development and other matters in the area.

Witney resident John Jukes was not involved in the Witney Vision project when he attended the first meeting in February. Since then he has joined the group as a volunteer and helped collate information gathered at the previous meeting.

On Wednesday, Mr Jukes divided the plan into four stages: launch, evidence gathering, agreement and production of the plan, then delivery of the goals outlined.

Speaking about the later stages, he said: "We’ll be putting the proposals to everyone and saying ‘what do you think?’ Then it’s about getting on with it and delivering things that matter to people."

During the course of the evening, residents were asked to identify areas of the community that are harder to reach to ensure they could contribute to the plan.

Witney Vision will soon be looking at forming a steering group to provide a more organised approach to the plan's composition.

Town councillor Dr Suzanne Bartington said it would be vital to involved people who are isolated, whether that be the elderly, vulnerable, or those suffering from mental health problems.

She added that there needed to be a clear distinction between the group and the council, saying: "I think a broad representation on the steering group will be crucial so people understand that it's not meant to be councillor-led."

The group will host a series of 45 minute sessions in the Corn Exchange on June 3, between 11am and 3pm, with residents invited to drop in and get involved with the process.

Liam Walker, of Bladon, is the Conservative county council candidate for the Hanborough and Minster Lovell division.

He said: “I think this is a really great idea and I’m glad representatives from Witney town council are pushing this agenda.

“I really think some there needs to be some joined up thinking with neighbouring parishes and this is moving quickly.

“It’s got good merit. The second meeting had about the same size audience as the first meeting so you can see there’s an appetite for it. We just need local people to get involved.”

To get involved with the community led plan follow Witney Vision on Twitter @Witney_Vision or email the group via witney_vision@outlook.com.

It was announced at Wednesday's meeting that the group has launched a new website, which can be found at witneyvision.uk.