THE team behind Okehampton Town and Hamlets Neighbourhood Plan Forum has announced that the project is taking a major step forward, with the neighbourhood plan questionnaire now ready to be sent out to all residents of Okehampton town and hamlets.

Neighbourhood plans allow local people to influence where and what type of development should happen in their community, promote additional development to that set out in West Devon’s Local Plan and include policies to add locally relevant detail to higher level policies in the Local Plan.

The first stage of the process will be the questionnaire gathering information that will help shape the plan.

James Cox, chair of the neighbourhood plan working group, said: ’I would rather look back in ten years’ time on housing developments in Okehampton and see that we made a difference than look back in ten years’ time and know that we passed by the opportunity to make a difference. It is our chance to have our say in the future of Okehampton.’

A questionnaire is to be sent to every household in the town and hamlets and additional copies will be online for other members of the family should they wish to fill out a separate questionnaire. A business questionnaire will go to every business in the area.

The responses will be crucial to the development of the plan.

Town councillor and Deputy Mayor Jan Goffey said: ’It really is important for as many people as possible to complete the questionnaires either on paper or online, because yes, it does matter to us what people think and we cannot plan for the future of the whole Okehampton area without your input!

’We have seen the effect of urban sprawl with no effective infrastructure upgrades. Do we need a new fast rail link to Exeter and down to Plymouth? A proper coach park? There are little pockets of blighted land around the town where we can push for small scale development as what?

’Without an effective neighbour-hood plan any developer can come in and build what and where they like in the hamlets. We have a voice at last; so please use your voice to help make our town and surrounding area a better place for our children and children’s children too.’

The neighbourhood plan for Okehampton is being taken forward by Okehampton town and hamlets councils; it can establish general planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood such as where new homes and work spaces should be built, and what they should look like.

Neighbourhood plans can be detailed or general, depending on the desires of local people.

However, such plans can not be used to conflict with local planning strategy. In Okehampton’s case, that means not conflicting with policies in the Local Plan developed by West Devon Borough Council. It cannot be used to block development set out in the Local Plan.

There will be future events where residents can add ideas and visions to the plan.

The neighbourhood plan was launched last year after Okehampton Town Council and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council adopted a joint councils’ protocol to start the process of creating a neighbourhood plan.

The two councils have joined forces to put together the plan amidst the high levels of development planned for Okehampton in the coming years.

The opening event of the neighbourhood plan back in July saw one of the biggest public consultations the town has ever had in the Charter Hall. Around 320 people came through the door throughout the day to share their thoughts on the needs of the town and find out more about the neighbourhood plan process. The biggest issue highlighted by attendees was the need to improve infrastructure and traffic management in the town, followed by the need for more employment and business growth opportunities in the town and hamlets.

If you have not received a questionnaire by mid April, email [email protected]

For more information visit the Okehampton Town and Hamlets Neigh-bourhood Plan Facebook page or www.okehamplan.btck.co.uk