As the search for hazardous gas wells continues in downtown Wheatley, a plan to revitalize and strengthen the town will soon be moving forward.
The Wheatley Recovery Task Force presented a report to Chatham-Kent council on Monday, detailing recently completed public consultation sessions and the upcoming next steps for revitalizing the community’s economy, following the devastating gas explosion in downtown Wheatley in August 2021.
Following a pair of public consultation sessions held in May and August, the Task Force plans to finalize its “Community Action Plan” in the coming months, which will guide the recovery process over the next two years. The “Urban Visioning Project” will also start in November.
The first phase of the action plan, expected to begin in December, will include studies, planning for future infrastructure, and the development of programs and materials to support revitalization efforts.
The Task Force, led by Economic Development Officer Kyra Knapp, was created earlier this year with the goal of restoring business activity, providing housing options, and preparing for future challenges in the town of Wheatley.
In the meantime, the final phase of an investigation to determine the presence of any additional hazardous gas wells in downtown Wheatley began last week.