EVERYTHING from transport to affordable housing were hot topics at a recent conference aimed at improving the quality of life of those living in the Malvern Hills.

A wide variety of the district's organisations opened discussions for a new community strategy at the Vision 21 Malvern Hills Partnership's annual conference. Representatives from the private, public and voluntary sectors attended the conference held at QinetiQ in Malvern's St Andrew's Road.

Vision 21 Malvern Hills is an umbrella organisation made up of various bodies such as the district council aimed at improving the quality of life in the area.

Members who attended the meeting discussed issues including local transport, affordable housing, infrastructure to support the local economy, energy conservation and encouraging community initiatives.

These issues will be the foundation for the organisation's new community strategy, which will be developed later in the year. The public will have the chance to contribute to the document later in the summer.

A new leaflet summarising the partnership's activities over the past year - A New Perspective - One Year On was also launched.

Guy Weston, the chief executive of Festival Housing Group and the partnership's new chairman, urged more organisations to get involved through activities such as visiting a farmers' market or by learning a new skill.

He said: "We're delighted the conference was such a success and it was good to see so many organisations working together for the benefit of the district."