RESIDENTS on Dartmoor are being urged to get involved and have their say with the area’s Local Plan.

The Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) is reviewing its Local Plan and wants communities to voice their opinions as the document is the basis for all planning decisions in the park.

A Local Plan sets out policies on many different development issues, including residential extensions, the natural environ-ment, listed buildings, equestrian develop-ment and, in some towns and villages, also identifies areas for future housing or employment develop-ment.

But, in order for the authority to best gauge the issues within Dartmoor’s com-munities, it is urging people to have their say at a series of drop-in events across West Devon over the next two weeks.

Forward planning manager for DNPA, Dan Janota, said: ‘We’ve already talked with communities about what they think the key issues are but this is the first stage of the Local Plan where we gather evidence and engage with the community around specific sites. We are collecting a lot of evidence which may shape what future policy looks like and it’s important that local people share their views too.’

Land to develop, as part of the Local Plan, was put forward to the DNPA and from that a shortlist was created. 

Mr Janota added: ‘Landowners came forward to see if their land could be a future development option on the Local Plan. We then assessed these areas and put them into a shortlist and it is that shortlist which we need feedback on from the community.

‘We expect the next Local Plan will maintain our focus on the needs of local communities on Dartmoor and expect still to only see small scale change. Dartmoor is a living working landscape where communities need to be able to thrive but we must balance this with the need to protect a nationally and internationally important environ-ment.

‘It’s not just about housing though as there is a lot of other things going on that we want feedback on for the Local Plan and we want to know what people need in their communities.’

Mr Janota added that a Local Plan was a necessity: ‘The local plan enables us to make decisions we can defend, protecting the national park from inappropriate develop-ment and supporting local communities with the housing, employment or infrastructure they might need.’

After the open meetings, Mr Janota and his team will compile a draft Local Plan which will be expected by summer 2018.

‘We are having a series of meetings with parish and town councils, held in public, and we invite people to come along and listen and share their views. The earlier you get involved the better, as there will be greater opportunity to influence the early parts of this process.’

Open meetings include: Yelverton, Tuesday, November 21 at Clearbrook Village Hall at 7.30pm; Princetown Community Centre on Thursday, November 23 at 7.30pm and Chagford’s Endecott House at 7.30pm on Monday, November 27.

National park staff will be attending these open meetings as these locations are where it is expected land will be allocated for development.

The meetings will discuss the Local Plan review, the process for identifying potential sites and the options which can be considered in each community. There will be further formal consultation on the first draft Local Plan during 2018.