EMPOWERING our communities to genuinely shape their future is at the heart of Kingston Council’s vision for the future.

A fantastic example is the Plan for the Kingston Town Centre Area, which is working to create a ten-year plan for the town centre which captures the vision of the people who live and work here.

Rather than following the traditional approach of allowing developers to decide what they want to build and then consulting local people, this new initiative has turned that process on its head by first asking residents how the town centre should develop and change.

Throughout the year local people have been helping us shape a truly democratic vision for the town. At the centre of this has been a Citizens’ Panel made up of residents who accurately reflect the demographic make-up of the borough.

Meeting between March and October, the 40-strong Citizens’ Panel agreed Kingston needs a cohesive town centre that offers greener, cleaner, safer, more accessible places.

It also felt fewer cars and more pedestrian areas would enhance residents’ and visitors’ quality of life, while Kingston’s heritage should be protected and celebrated alongside its diversity.

The emerging vision is one that strengthens a sense of community. A vision for a buzzing town centre that celebrates our past, our present and our natural environment. And a vision that meets the needs of everyone while also creating healthy and happier spaces.

It is right that residents and our communities should be the first to shape how our borough develops and changes but, to be truly successful, we need to capture the views and aspirations of everyone.

As well as continuing the conversation with residents, we are now talking to workers, visitors, community groups, businesses and landowners to make sure as many people as possible feed into the vision.

There will also be a further chance for the public to have their say on the draft vision at the Market House, in the middle of Kingston’s Market Square, on Saturday, November 19. I’d like to encourage anyone interested in shaping the town centre’s future to either come along or to visit www.kingstonletstalk.co.uk/aplanforkingston to complete our survey.

Along with all parts of the country, Kingston is going through a period of significant change. What we need and want from our town centres in the future will be very different from what we have today. Alongside this, the homes we need and the environment we desire will look very different from the present.

The plan for the Kingston Town Centre Area will sit alongside our Local Plan for the whole borough. The Local Plan will provide guidance on our vision for the borough and what we will allow developers to build. We will soon be consulting widely with residents on the Local Plan.

Through putting people in the driving seat to determine future development we can be more confident the Kingston of tomorrow will be a true reflection of what our communities want.