CIVIC chiefs are calling for Romsey residents to take part in its citizens' assembly to help steer the direction of major development in the town. 

The scheme for the south of town centre, which is one of the biggest in the town's history, has touched a nerve with people around the town, as one of the options is for Crosfield Hall to be demolished and rebuilt at Romsey Rapids. 

The new consultation comes five years after Romsey Future held a Citizens' Assembly, which asked Romsey residents what they wanted from the South of Romsey Town Centre Masterplan.

Part of the findings from 2019 was that people wanted an improved community facility. They also held consultations from 2018-2020 which included more than 15 public events, walking tours and questionnaires. 

The masterplan didn’t make any firm conclusions around how and where to provide a community facility as it required further investigation, so the citizens’ assembly will be playing an important part in shaping the recommendations. 

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A recent petition to keep the hall in its current location, organised by Hilary Philbin, was signed by more than 2,500 people. 

Romsey Future is working with Thinks Insight and Strategy and Plus Four Market Research to run a citizens’ assembly in July and September. 

The citizens’ assembly will see local people come together to consider key evidence and information and use this to create recommendations for Romsey Future to include in their plan to regenerate the area south of the town centre, which includes the Crosfield Hall site.

To register an interest in taking part, visit plus4.co.uk/romseyfuture. 

Thinks Insight and Strategy and Plus Four Market Research will also be contacting people over the phone and visiting the town centre and local neighbourhoods to ask residents if they would like to join the citizens’ assembly. 

There will be 36 people selected to take part, making sure that the group reflects the variety of people who call Romsey home. 

People selected will be paid £350 for attending the four sessions.

Allie Jennings, associate director at Thinks Insight and Strategy, said: “We’re very excited to be designing and facilitating the citizens’ assembly for this important work on the future of community facilities in Romsey. We are looking forward to continuing to learn more about the town and the community when we meet the participants next month.”

You can find out more at romseyfuture.org.uk.