Consultants have been commissioned by Huntingdonshire District Council to report on the health of St Neots – the first town in a process which will be rolled out across other centres.
The announcement of the imminent health check was made to St Neots Town Council by the district council's chief planning officer Steve Ingram.
Mr Ingram told members of the council that the basic aim of the health check was to: "Identify the current, economic, social and environmental strengths and weaknesses of the town and to assess how pro-active management of the growth agenda could ensure St Neots benefits from further growth – in order to become a more sustainable place."

The council officer said leading design and planning consultants EDAW had been commissioned to carry out the research and are expected to present their findings to the district council in the New Year.
It is expected the document will be with the inspector in March or April as part of the district's Core Strategy.
The document will also help to underpin the district council's strategy in bidding for Government money.

Mr Ingram confirmed that St Neots was the first town in the district selected to be the focus of the detailed exercise.
It will initially involve establishing a stakeholder partnership group, such as the town council, St Neots Town Centre Initiative and other community groups, to discover what needs to change in the town and what the real issues are.

Mr Ingram said the study would look at the whole town, including retail, infrastructure and facilities.
He told the councillors at last week's meeting: "Our ethos is to make St Neots a healthier place. We are going to leave it with our consultants who will come to you. During the exercise there will be workshop sessions."

Mr Ingram said the four-step process would be to first establish partnership groups; carry out the health check; create a vision for the future of the town and then prepare an action plan. "It is going to be a tight schedule," he said.
During question time, Cllr Fiona Birks said she was concerned St Neots Market Square would not be safeguarded from too many take-aways.
Mr Ingram said a retail analysis would be carried out as part of the health check.

Cllr Paul Ursell asked if there would be fresh money available for St Neots, or if it would be coming from property developers?
Mr Ingram said there would be elements from developers, but other avenues would be explored for more finance, such as from the Government's housing growth fund.

Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Gordon Thorpe, welcomed the district council's initiative and offers of help.
Handing Mr Ingram a 70-page document detailing proposals from the Joint Project Group (JPG) for a cinema in St Neots, Cllr Barry Chapman added: "This might help you."

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