Winchcombe Town Council is looking forward to building on the good spirit in the town that was engendered during the flooding and water crisis. During 2008 some key decisions will have to be made and the following projects are already underway or on the horizon:

• Winchcombe Sports Hub
  Heralded by the wonderful news that Winchcombe School has achieved another specialism in leadership two years work in partnership with Winchcombe schools, and sports clubs, Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association, Tewkesbury Borough Council and Gloucestershire County Council may be starting to pay off. It is hoped that the first phase of a sports hub in Winchcombe may get underway.
  
  
• Economic Health Check for Winchcombe
  Winchcombe Town Council, along with representatives from Winchcombe Business Forum and the retail businesses, is an important partner on the steering committee with Gloucestershire First’s Vitality, Viability and Vulnerability Study. It is hoped the study will provide valuable knowledge and data on the economy of the Town which can then be used as a comparator against others at a local, regional and national level.
  
  
• Flood Action Group
  Winchcombe Town Council along with volunteers from the general public has created a Flood Action Group. Although the Group has not yet held its inaugural meeting it is anticipated there will be a significant amount of work to do particularly with the recent announcement by Tewkesbury Borough Council to fund a survey of the River Isbourne in Winchcombe. It is hoped this may help produce a model for future flood prevention and alleviation in the Town.
  
  
• Help for local retail businesses
  As the experts the local retail businesses must actively seek and identify ideas and opportunities to help themselves. Winchcombe Town Council would welcome ideas and schemes to consider as well as the opportunity to work together rather than the often undeserved criticism. In the meantime Winchcombe Town Council will take the opportunity to engage with Gloucestershire Market Town Forum seeking advice and expertise.