Totnes and Dartington young people asked to help shape town’s future

Young people in Totnes are being invited to share their views through a new survey that will help shape plans for the town’s future.

South Hams District Council has been working with sixth form students at King Edward VI Community College over the last eight months to create a dedicated survey for people aged 16 to 24 who live in Totnes and Dartington.

The young people’s survey asks about life in Totnes and Dartington, how people spend their time, their thoughts on housing and the environment and whether they feel there are enough local opportunities for them.

This work supports the wider Totnes CEP consultation, which gathered 174 responses from local businesses. Some key themes include stronger business support, better networking and training opportunities, improved digital connectivity, better business waste and recycling options and improved access for walking, wheeling and cycling across town to enable a supportive, sustainable, and collaborative economy for the area.

Feedback from the Young Survey will help identify projects for young people in the area and will help South Hams District Council prepare a Community Economic Plan for Totnes.

Young people can complete the survey at https://youngtotnes.commonplace.is until Saturday 8 August.

South Hams District Council’s, Executive Member for Economic Development, Cllr John Birch, said: “The future of Totnes should be shaped by the people who live, study and work here, and that must include younger voices.

“This survey gives 16 to 24-year-olds a direct way to tell us what matters to them, from the places they use and the activities they want, to the opportunities they hope to see locally in the years ahead.

“Students at King Edward VI Community College have played an important role in making this happen. They have helped design the survey and are encouraging others to get involved, and we are grateful to them and the school staff for their support. It’s important young people continue to have their say because they will be the driving force behind the future of the town.”