A FORMER director at Cotswold District Council whose post was made redundant has been handed the reins to a project aimed at improving Cirencester for future generations.

Dr Andrea Pellegram has been appointed Community Agent for Cirencester's Market and Coastal Towns Initiative.

Cirencester Town Council has been granted £20,000 from the Market and Coastal Towns Association, an independent organisation which supports the development of "vibrant, healthy and sustainable market and coastal towns" across the South West.

Town clerk Andrew Tubb said the money must be used to prepare a long-term strategic plan covering social, economic and environmental and cultural futures in the town and the provision of support of enable such plans to be implemented.

A steering group has been established to represent the interests of those people who live and work in town.

Dr Pellegram will commence work next month, alongside the town council and the Market and Coastal Towns Partnership.

Dr Pellegram, who left CDC in October as part of a efficiency drive and cost-cutting exercise, will assist in the preparation of a community plan to act as a basis for grant applications and influence planning decisions.

Mr Tubb explained the project would complement CDC's Vision for Cirencester project, which Dr Pellegram herself worked upon, as well as Action Cirencester's plans for Market Place.

He told the Standard: "The role will involve research, drafting the community plan and taking it through the consultation process towards final adoption in August 2008, and will be on a part-time self-employed basis."

Ugly car parks, poor cycle paths and confusing signage were some of the issues raised by the public during the public consultations for the Vision for Cirencester.

CDC officers are preparing a report on the Vision for councillors to discuss next month.