TULLIBODY is in line for a brighter and more democratic future after embracing a new community action plan.

The area is promoting an 'Act as if You Own the Place’ approach, following work from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT).

CRT members worked in partnership with the Electoral Reform Society to launch a pilot of the new approach, as part of the Coalfields Community Futures Programme, which comes with a £25,000 participatory budget.

Tullibody’s five-year community action plan puts a heavy emphasis on providing facilities for young people, making the village more attractive, while trying to improve employment activities, and backing local traders.

Graham Struthers, steering group member and chair of the local community council, said: “It was great to see the community coming together, especially since they really did Act as if They Own the Place.

“We are also delighted at how well the action plan has been received and want to stress that there are still opportunities for people to help deliver some of the ambitious goals we have set ourselves.”

The Action Plan priorities include setting up a Youth Forum, a youth drop in centre, and exploring the opportunities for a skate park and AstroTurf pitch.

It will also look to support the ongoing work on the Delph Pond, organising a village clean-up and making the village a safer place with traffic calming measures, and more crossing points.

Finally, the project will seek to working with Clackmannanshire Council and others to investigate opportunities for increasing employability initiatives locally, backing local traders and improving Broadband access.

Nicky Wilson, Scottish trustee of the CRT, said: “Tullibody should be very proud of its five-year community action plan which seems to have something for everyone.”

Willie Sullivan, Scottish Director of the Electoral Reform Society, added: “We have long argued that local decision making has become too remote.

“The ‘Act as if you own the Place’ approach aims to give local people a real say in shaping their future, and going by Tullibody’s success it looks as though it is working."