A SHARED vision focusing on the social, economic and environmental well-being of Bury will help shape the new millennium.

The main areas to be tackled under an ambitious Community Plan will be outlined in January when the final document is published.

Earlier this year Bury Council, spearheading the project, held an historic meeting in the town to gauge people's opinions on key issues to be embraced within the report.

Now, six topics which will form the main thrust of the Community Plan have been identified. These are:

Investing in Young People.

Accessibility.

Safer Communities.

Sustainable Development, Transport and the Environment.

Building and Developing Communities Together.

Planning for Vitality and Vibrancy. Public interest in the project has been significant, with almost 2,000 responses to a local authority consultation leaflet on the initiative.

Mrs Carolyn Wilkins, Bury's head of corporate policy and research, said: "Community Planning is about the council's role in promoting the social, economic and environmental well-being of Bury and at the heart of its community leadership role."

A strategy group, embracing what she describes as all the "key players in the borough", will be charged with ensuring a "clear and shared vision for the future of Bury".

It had been hoped the Community Plan for Bury would be published in September. It has now been put back until January.

Meanwhile, the draft proposals will be taken through the borough's Area Boards. Work is taking place on the six Community Plan issues identified.

Mrs Wilkins said: "This exercise is very important as a great deal is already happening in Bury, as Community Planning is about added value, not duplication.

"It is important to recognise issues are raised by people because they are unaware of initiatives already under way."

She added: "Once this task is complete, work will be able to proceed on ensuring the vision is turned into reality and action is focused on areas where work is not currently being undertaken."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.