[00:54.28]MAN:First of all, let me thank you all for coming to this public meeting, to discuss the future of our town.
[00:59.18]Our first speaker is Shona Ferguson, from Barford town council.
[01:03.72]Shona.
[01:04.71]SHONA:Thank you.
[01:05.89]First I'll briefly give you some background information, then I'll be asking you for your comments on developments in the town.
[01:12.96]Well, as you don't need me to tell you, Barford has changed a great deal in the last 50 years.
[01:19.73]These are some of the main changes.
[01:22.24]Fifty years ago, buses linked virtually every part of the town and the neighbouring towns and villages.
[01:29.17]Most people used them frequently, but not now, because the bus comoanies concentrate on just the routes that attract most passengers.
[01:37.64]So parts of the town are no longer served by buses.
[01:41.38]Even replacing old uncomfortable buses with smart new ones has had little impact on passenger numbers.
[01:49.30]It's sometimes said that bus fares are too high, but in relation to average incomes, fares are not much higher than they were 50 years ago.
[01:58.26]Changes in the road network are affecting the town.
[02:02.85]The centre was recently closed to traffic on a trial basis, making it much safer for pedestrians.
[02:09.37]The impact of this is being measured.
[02:12.28] The new cycle paths, separating bikes from cars in most main roads, are being used far more than was expected, reducing traffic and improving air quality.
[02:23.88]And although the council's attempts to have a bypass constructed have failed, we haven't given up hope of persuading the government to change its mind.
[02:33.14]Shopping in the town centre has changed over the years.
[02:37.31]Many of us can remember when the town was crowded with people going shopping.
[02:41.38]Numbers have been falling for several years, despite efforts to attract shoppers, for instance by opening new car parks.
[02:49.95]Some people combine shopping with visits to the town's restaurants and cafes.
[02:54.87]Most shops are small independent stores, which is good, but many people prefer to use supermarkets and department stores in nearby large towns, as there are so few well-known chain stores here.
[03:07.61]Turning now to medical facilities, the town is served by family doctors in several medical practices - fewer than 50 years ago, but each catering for far more patients.
[03:20.42] Our hospital closed 15 years ago, which means journeys to other towns are unavoidable.
[03:26.16]On the other hand, there are more dentists than there used to be.
[03:30.55]Employment patterns have changed, along with almost everything else.
[03:34.91] The number of schools and colleges has increased, making that the main employment sector.
[03:40.14]Services, such as website design and accountancy, have grown in importance, and surprisingly, perhaps, manufacturing hasn't seen the decline that has affected it in other parts of the country.
[04:36.29]Now I'll very quickly outline current plans for some of the town's facilities, before asking for your comments.
[04:43.31]As you'll know if you regularly use the car park at the railway station, it's usually full.
[04:50.22]The railway company applied for permission to replace it with a multi-storey car park, but that was refused.
[04:56.26] Instead, the company has bought some adjoining land, and this will be used to increase the number of Parking spaces.
[05:02.87] The Grand, the old cinema in the high street, will close at the end of the year, and reopen on a different site.
[05:10.72]You've probably seen the building under construction.
[05:13.42]The plan is to have three screens with fewer seats, rather than just the one large auditorium in the old cinema.
[05:20.78]I expect many of you shop in the indoor market.
[05:24.92]It's become more and more shabby- looking, and because of fears about safety, it was threatened with demolition.
[05:32.32] The good news is that it will close for six weeks to be made safe and redecorated, and the improved building will open in July.
[05:40.22]Lots of people use the library, including school and college students who go there to study.
[05:46.77] The council has managed to secure funding to keep the library open later into the evening, twice a week.
[05:53.18]We would like to enlarge the building in the not-too-distant future, but this is by no means definite.
[05:59.55]There's no limit on access to the nature reserve on the edge of town, and this will continue to be the case.
[06:06.44]What will change, though, is that the council will no longer be in charge of the area.
[06:11.66] Instead it will become the responsibility of a national body that administers most nature reserves in the country.
[06:18.96]OK, now let me ask you ...
