HASLEMERE residents will have the chance to shape the future of the town as part of a radical new scheme.

The town has been selected by the Countryside Agency and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) for its joint bid with Cranleigh, to receive up to £62,000 of government funding to carry out a "health check" public consultation and improvements.

The scheme means residents can join working parties to put forward suggestions for improvements to day-to-day life.

Transport and access, the environment, the local economy, and services for society are the specific areas that will be discussed by the working parties.

All the views will then be taken into account by a specially appointed co-ordinator and a project manager who will use them to put together an action plan for the town.

A spokesman for the Countryside Agency, Victoria Westthorp, said: "School pupils, the elderly, and people from all walks of life should be able to have their say.

"We are especially keen to hear from the types of people who perhaps would not usually join groups or committees."

She continued that although the action plan would span four to five years, many of the improvements that stem from it will continue to be relevant in another 15 to 20 years.

"It is important that we gather the views from as many residents as possible," she added.

Haslemere is one of just 15 rural towns in the South East selected to receive the funding. Its joint bid with Cranleigh means the two towns will share up to £62,000 over a three-year period, and will also share the same co-ordinator and project manager.

But the matched funding scheme means that Haslemere will have to find up to 50 per cent of the amount put aside by the Countryside Agency before it receives any funding.

President of Haslemere Chamber of Trade and Commerce Melanie Odell and mayor Michael Barnes are positive that the funds can be raised.

Mrs Odell said: "I am very supportive of the scheme and as a chamber we will be more than happy to assist in whatever way we can."

Mr Barnes said he was delighted at the news and said the scheme would receive the full support of the town council.

The announcement follows a call from Mr Barnes for a plan for the town centre.

"I think this scheme will help us to form a vision for the town, and will help us to make improvements for the benefit of residents, businesses, and visitors."

Meetings will be held with representatives of all the towns which have made successful bids, and Ms Westthorp said she was "very hopeful" that Haslemere would be able to start the project within the next six to nine months.

Countryside Agency regional director for the South East and London Duncan Mackay summed up the aims of the scheme.

"We want to bring a new lease of life to market towns in the South East, working with our partners to ensure that these local centres provide convenient access to services that the surrounding rural communities depend on," he said.