A HUGE project which aims to find out how Marlow can be better shaped in the future is being launched.

A Market Town Healthcheck will be carried out whereby communities can appraise the strengths, weaknesses, future demands and opportunities for the town.

The process is community-led and is guided by a steering committee with working groups set up to tackle worksheets covering economy, social and community, transport and access and environment.

The news has been met with excitement among those responsible for carrying out the project, which is due to last between nine months and a year.

Rod Braybrooke, chairman of the Marlow Community Forum, said: "The approach, which is based on the Countryside Agency's Healthcheck, has proved its usefulness to more than 200 communities already, drawing the community together, creating a sense of identity and purpose and instilling a feeling of pride within the community."

The Forum, together with the Chamber of Trade, Marlow Society, Marlow Community Association, Churches Together, Marlow Town Council, Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council are behind the initiative. Similar health checks in Princes Risborough and Bourne End were welcomed and Marlow Town Council is keen to get similar support.

Town clerk Howard Bellairs said: "This is exciting as it's new territory for us and we are looking forward to being party to the exercise."

Malcolm Godwin, the county council's rural town co-ordinator for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, said people who cared about how they would like to see Marlow develop in the next 20 years should get involved in the community project.

Cllr Peter Cartwright, the district council's cabinet member for transport and employment, said the local authority was fully committed.

He added: "This commitment is demonstrated by our having provided project funding of nearly £15,000 for the health check during the last couple of years."

The health check will be launched at a meeting at All Saints Parish Hall, The Causeway, Marlow, at 7.30pm on Thursday, July 14, when the strategy will be outlined.

Anyone interested should call 01628 484024 or Mr Braybrooke on 01628 488238