Plain Action
14 June 2010
Some eighty people enjoyed Plain Action’s Open
Day when 11 projects already benefitting from the RDPE’s £2.5m
programme were on display, together with several other
organisations involved in the life of Salisbury Plain.
The venue reflected Plain Action’s determined
economic bias - a breezeblock unit on a new industrial estate.
The new Castledown Business Park close to the military town of
Tidworth boasts an imaginative innovation centre with some cutting
edge design features. Plain Action intends to support a variety of
businesses throughout the Plain area, including start-ups for those
leaving military service. Current applications approved or under
consideration include those from a marquee hire company, and a
proposed speciality food retailer/wholesaler. It’s not always easy
to reach businesses and people in need so proposals from a local
radio station to assist are being looked at with interest.
Four speakers kept people interested with
their own interpretations of ‘Military Civilian Integration’. They
were Brigadier Stephen Hodder of 43 Brigade, Paul Whitelegg of
QinetiQ Boscombe Down, Andy Schofield of the Wellington Academy and
Jane Scott as Leader of Wiltshire Council. Fleur de
Rhe-Philipe, Chairman of Plain Action, held it all together! As a
result, 80 people went away much better informed about Plain
Action, and we were pleased to attract considerable media
attention.