HOLMFIRTH has received a big cash injection so it can plan for its future.

The Big Lottery Fund has granted Keep Holmfirth Special £9,282 to support the development of a community plan aimed at making the valley a great place to live, work and visit.

And the move comes shortly after Kirklees Council rejected Tesco’s bid to build a large supermarket close to Holmfirth.

The Big Lottery Fund states the money is being given so residents can form “a positive vision for the community.’’

The plan will be based on the results of three surveys.

The Holme Valley Vision project steering group has carefully designed the surveys to gather information about what matters most to the people and businesses living and working in the valley.

Holme Valley Vision is a collaborative project set up by Keep Holmfirth Special last year.

Most of the area’s community groups have worked closely together with the parish council, Holmfirth and Honley high schools, Café 100, West Yorkshire Police and with help from the Jobcentre Plus and Kirklees Council.

Two surveys have already been completed by more than 1,000 young people and nearly 100 businesses.

The results will be available on the Holme Valley Vision web site in the middle of August.

Early analysis shows that some of the priorities for action include transport, IT and communications, education and training provision, employment opportunities and sporting facilities.

The residents’ survey will be conducted in September and will involve both face-to-face interviews and an online questionnaire.

Margaret Dale from Keep Holmfirth Special said: “The results of this survey will be combined with the young people and business findings to reveal the priorities for action.

“The Big Lottery funding will be used to publish the findings widely and to run workshops and other events for local people and businesses.

“These activities will involve local people and businesses in identifying what changes need to be made within the community to deal with the priorities and make the valley a better place to live in.

“The suggestions will be combined into the community plan. The next phase will be to deliver it.

“Some of the priorities can be acted on immediately and already some senior and influential people and organisations are showing interest in what is emerging.

“Some of the priorities will take a lot longer and require considerable investment.

“The Holme Valley Vision project is ready for these challenges as they all agree that while the valley needs improvement.’’

The groups involved in Holme Valley Vision are the Holmfirth Arts Festival, Brockholes Village Trust, Co-Operative Group, Heart, Holme Valley BusinessŠAssociation, Holme Valley Communities Forum, Holme Valley Parish Council, Holmfirth and Honley High Schools, Holmfirth Civic Society, Holmfirth Transition Town, Honley Community Village Trust, Keep Holmfirth Special, Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Police.

Keep Holmfirth Special is a group of local residents and business people whose aims are to:

Promote Holmfirth and the Holme Valley, its attractions and facilities, its uniqueness and its future.

Reflect the views of the majority of residents and visitors and to constantly seek opinion.

Encourage residents, traders and visitors to contribute to the well-being of Holmfirth and the Holme Valley and to protect and promote its independence and uniqueness.

Support any initiatives that would be of benefit to all of its residents, visitors and traders.

Oppose any proposals that would have a detrimental effect on all or any of the benefits listed above.

Strive at all times to act only in a positive way.