A PLAN to improve life in Stroud over the next decade is being launched this week.

It will focus on improving the town centre, evening entertainment, the canal restoration and boosting the local economy. The plan is not set in stone, but aims to represent residents' concerns and find solutions.

Project co-ordinator Caroline Smith said: "Stroud's already had quite a lot of good development over the last couple of years. "Things that have traditionally been a problem have improved.

"When we were talking to people around the area one problem that came up was the number of empty shops. The evening economy is also something that's often thrown up.

"People say there's nothing to do in Stroud at the moment so that's one of the things we are going to look at. We want to get away from the drinking culture. People see it as you come into the town centre to drink and there's nothing else.

"We are saying we want to develop the evening economy but other people are saying they want to live above the shops in the town centre - in which case they wouldn't want a thriving evening economy. It's trying to get the balance right."

The Community Strategic Plan, which has been developed by Project Stroud in consultation with residents, will open to the public on Saturday at the Subscription Rooms between 11am and 2pm.

There will be art and craft displays, music, face-painting, information stands and refreshments and the Project Stroud team will be there to field questions.

Community organisations are encouraged to take part in the project, call Caroline Smith on 01594 542652.