MARKET towns throughout the land are at present undergoing a 'health' check - with factors as varied as economy and history buildings under the microscope. The aim of the Countryside Agency initiative is to enable market towns assess and improve their vitality and that of the surrounding countryside. Gazette feature writer KIRSTY RAMSDEN spoke to the women charged with testing the temperature of Wotton-under-Edge.

A 'HEALTH' check may sound a rather clinical term, but, explained Helen King, it is the tool devised by the Countryside Agency to aid towns such as Wotton-under-Edge.

Wotton resident Ms King volunteered to co-ordinate the town's 'health' check after joining its regeneration partnership.

She joined Wotton-under-Edge Regeneration Partnership through a fellow member of the federation of small businesses.

A self-employed business coach and trainer, she felt she had the time to volunteer to such a project.

The 'health' check investigates four factors of town 'health' - environment, economy, social and community, and transport and accessibility.

Ms King envisages the initial stage of the 'health' check being a relatively simple operation of gathering facts and figures.

She said her first job on the 'health' check would be to trawl town council records and information from the internet to give information such as the size of the town and its population, how many business it had and how many employees.

She estimates it will take until the end of July to collate this information. She will need to enlist more volunteers to help with the next stage of the check - finding out residents' views and needs for the town.

She said: "It should be straight forward to gather facts and figures but finding out public opinion could take up to four months or more.

"Everyone in the town has their own individual issues, for example a lot of businesses are concerned about parking and sport is a big issue.

"A 'health' check is a good way of understanding what people need.

"There are always going to be people who jump up and down about something but we may find there is something everyone wants but it has never been raised before." She would like volunteers to take on board specific sections of the 'health' check.

She describes the 'health' check as a planning tool.

She said: "It's a way to show the state of the place and where it wants to get in the future.

"It will give an idea of what it is like to live here - the problems of the town and the things that need developing.

"My role is to co-ordinate the check but it needs to involve, in theory, everyone in the town."

Townsfolk will be able to contact Ms King directly to give their views for aspects of the check.

Organisations such as schools and clubs in the town will be involved. She said: "It is important to talk to people of all ages."

The results of the check will be published and, she envisages, posted on the town council's website. She said: "It will be the starting point for action in the future and it will be updated." The result of the check, she added, would be action plans to take the town forward.

Another use of the 'health' check is to gain access to grants.

Ms King explained there was public money available for grants but for an organisation to receive money for a specific project it had to prove a need.

As well as involving Wotton people, it will include residents living in villages surrounding the town.

She will be speaking to parish councils of neighbouring villages. She said: "We need to involve anyone who uses Wotton - anyone who has an interest in the town."

There has been a suggestion muted of staging a public event, such as a presentation evening or stall at a town event, to give residents information on the 'health' check's progress.

Newly-wed Ms King grew up in North Nibley. After college she returned to the area in 1990, settling in Wotton-under-Edge.

She took the 'health' check on board as she had time available and wanted to do something for the community without having to stand for public office.

Wotton-under-Edge is one of eight towns in Gloucestershire taking part in the 'health' check project and Ms King has the support of a 'health' check co-ordinator employed by Gloucestershire Market Town Forum.

To find out more about Wotton's 'health' check or to volunteer call 01453 520256 or email helen@helenkingconsultancy.co.uk

Pictured: Taking the town's temperature . . . ''health'' check co-ordinator for Wotton-under-Edge Helen King GJA416H03