MEMBERS of the Vision 21 partnership set up to look at the future of the Malvern area were encouraged by a considerably improved turnout for a public meeting this week.

Around 60 people turned out to hear how the partnership's work was progressing, at a meeting in Priory Lodge Hall on Monday.

That compared to just three members of the public who were interested enough to attend a similar meeting in January.

At the meeting, partnership member Coun Bryan Smith stressed that they could not offer instant solutions to current problems in the district, or a complete plan for the future. But he encouraged people to make their views known, whether they agreed with the partnership or not.

According to questionnaires filled out earlier this year the people of Malvern rank community safety, health service and the environment as the most important features of the town.

They are least satisfied with public transport, community safety and the environment.

Coun Smith said that feedback from 14 previous public meetings frequently referred to threats to the environment, long term society issues and concerns about insufficiency of police.

In terms of a long-term plan from the district, there was a chorus of disapproval from the audience when Coun Smith talked about housing. He said that the partnership had concluded that action should be taken to ensure that younger people and families stayed in the district.

"Jobs must be there and salaries must keep pace with house prices," he said.

"So, we need to attract high paying employers into the district."

Members of the public disagreed, saying that too many highly paid jobs would lead to an imbalance with lower paid services such as waste disposal and street cleaning.

Also discussed were rural public transport systems, the lack of facilities for children in the town and concerns as to whether an accurate cross section of the population was represented.

"We must find a way of satisfying these needs without harming the character or environment on the district," said Coun Smith.

The partnership is made up of more than 30 organisations in Malvern, including QinetiQ, Malvern Hills District Council and Worcestershire County Council, who are trying to create a long-term plan for the future of Malvern.

A Vision 21 public meeting at the Kings Head, in Upton, on Wednesday night (June 19) was attended by just 26 people. Organisers were once again disappointed by the response.