Where Leominster fell short

Leominster is setting its goals as a town for the next three years. But a review of its previous “corporate plan” shows not all such goals were met last time.

The town council this week (September 23) debated its draft plan for 2024-27 before it is consulted on more widely alongside the town’s planned budget.

The document shows that in the last such plan, for the period 2019-22, Leominster:

Did not develop “a high quality open space” at the Grange, its main public green space. But the town council has just canvassed townspeople’s views on upgrading the park’s play area.

Did not secure a Green Flag award, the national mark of quality public green space, for the Grange or any other open spaces in the town;

Made “no progress” in trying to acquire part of the Etnam Street car park, next to the Grange, from its current owner Herefordshire Council;

Did not ensure the town’s still largely dormant Southern Urban Extension plan “is well served with public open spaces”;

Did not implement the “now obsolete” Destination Leominster plan intended to support local voluntary organisations – having pursued an “alternative strategy” instead;

Failed to apply for Gold status under the National Association of Local Councils’ award scheme for best practice.

“The vast majority of the targets we set ourselves in 2019 have been achieved or partly achieved, despite the difficulties created by the Covid pandemic,” town mayor Coun Gill Murdoch writes in her introduction to the plan.

The town council remains “committed to taking on the devolved discretionary services where possible” while “continuing to be realistic in setting our budget and parish precept” within local council tax, she adds.

Among Leominster’s priorities for the next three years are to make best use of its buildings for the benefit of the community, to set up youth projects in the town, to continue to support its voluntary groups, to seek grant funding for major projects, and to source products and services locally “wherever possible”.

It also plans to complete work on the Secret Garden to rear of its Corn Square headquarters, and to introduce more markets and events “on
town council-owned or highway land”.