AN ambitious development blueprint is needed to bring fresh investment into Wellington and create a positive future for the town.

Regional development chiefs have vowed to put Wellington on the map, and now they want residents and community leaders to back the scheme.

Town leaders want to see several key changes, such as improving access from the M5 and allocating land for new industrial development.

The South-West Regional Development Agency wants the views of residents, traders and civic chiefs to create a vibrant vision for Wellington.

At a special meeting of Wellington Town Council, SWRDA principal community regeneration manager David Rees outlined the moves Wellington needs to make to attract investment and improve residents' quality of life.

Mr Rees, who said that the Agency's remit was to improve the competitiveness and prosperity of the region, and the skills of the workforce, said: "I am here to listen to and understand the long-term vision and aspirations for Wellington."

He said the town had to ask itself: "Where do we see Wellington in five or ten years' time?" And he added: "It's a rhetorical question, but at some point there needs to be an answer to it."

For the full story, see this week's Somerset County Gazette.