IMPROVEMENTS to the riverside area and better access to open spaces are among the key visions for Tewkesbury's future.

About 60 stakeholders were invited to a "masterplan" workshop to help map out the next ten to 20 years of the town.

Yesterday, the borough council's offices were packed with representatives from groups including the Environment Agency, chamber of commerce, residents' associations, Tewkesbury Civic Society, Roses Theatre and Priors Park Neighbourhood Network.

The Community Engagement Advisory Group (CEAG), has been set up to ensure the public is involved along every step of the masterplan process.

The workshop focused on the "vision" of the master plan, which sets out what kind of place Tewkesbury should become, how much change is needed, and what is required physically, economically and socially.

Mayor Elaine Hancox said: "Creating this vision is a fantastic opportunity for the town. It is great to see so many people from such a wide range of organisations showing such enthusiasm to create a united view for the future of Tewkesbury town centre."

David Witts, who is joint chairman of CEAG, said the key areas up for discussion were the riverside area and High Street.

He said: "We will be looking at the High Street and try to keep it from being "any old High Street UK". We are also looking at a one-way system through the centre.

"But these are all ideas and nothing has been set in stone.

"It is a historic town and people want to keep that but also somehow knit together modern life with it."

He said a lot of passionate people came to the meeting and put forward their ideas.

"It is nice to see the community getting involved alongside the local authorities," he said.

People listed the strengths of the town as its range of facilities, affordable housing, fantastic architecture, festivals and river. Its weaknesses were mainly bad transport links and limited access to the river.

Stakeholder Keith Rog, from Gloucestershire First, said: "There was a fantastic energy in the room about creating this vision, which highlights that one of the real assets of the town is the people that live, work and socialise in it.

"It is these people that will go a long way in helping to create a successful vision for Tewkesbury Town Centre."