IN just four years the Marlborough Area Development Trust has started to play a major part in securing a better deal for all sections of the town and neighbouring villages.

The trust, chaired by retired deputy head teacher Melvyn Lillywhite, has members from across the Marlborough area who have volunteered because they want to see the community flourish.

The Marlborough community area comprises 26 parishes in the north east of the Kennet district.

A growing number of parishes is now represented giving an increasing number of villages a voice.

The trust was set up in 2000 to help deliver the plans and ideals of the Marlborough Community Area Plan.

The plan, to be formally launched on February 5, brings together the statutory and voluntary organisations across the Marlborough district to work together in key areas.

These were decided after Kennet District Council carried out research which involved one in three households. Questionnaires were handed out and there were nearly 800 replies.

Exhibitions were also held across the area to see what changes or improvements local people wanted to see in their lives.

Mr Lillywhite said this meant that the community plan reflected the concerns, priorities and issues identified by those who live and work in Marlborough community area.

MADT has established six task groups to concentrate on key responsibilities including culture, recreation and leisure; economy; education and life long learning; environment and the countryside; housing and the built environment and transport.

Unlike local authorities, the development trusts each of the four community areas in Kennet has one draws cash, via the district council, from the South West regional Development Agency.

Last year the MADT received £40,000 towards helping the area recover from the foot and mouth crisis.

The outbreak meant visitor figures plummeted and local business dependant upon tourism suffered considerably.

The money has been used in a variety of ways including a grant towards improvements at the Crofton Pumping Station on the Kennet and Avon Canal; a leaflet promoting walks in the Ramsbury area; better signs for the Postern Hill camp site in Savernake Forest; a shopping in Marlborough leaflet aimed at attracting more visitors to the town and its shops; and a Marlborough discovery leaflet to help tourists find the area's attractions.

The trust invited the French market to the town last year.

It has run a number of networking breakfasts, lunches and a dinner allowing local business people to share ideas.

Christopher Joseph, vice chairman of the trust's economy group, said MADT was helping to search for a replacement for the town's tourist information centre which Kennet District Council controversially closed in October as a cost cutting measure.

Mr Joseph said: "So many people in Marlborough depend on tourism.

"We are looking to see if we can find a way forward, a solution."

The trust's environment committee is chaired by Martin Cook, a teacher at St John's School.

The committee has been helping with the compilation of an environmental map of the River Kennet through the Marlborough area.

Anyone living in the 26 parishes that make up the Marlborough Community Area is entitled to attend meetings and, if they wish, become a member of the trust.

MADT is also looking for a new administrator.

The present administrator, Pat Harper, is leaving in mid-March and the trust would like to find someone before then.