RESIDENTS of Okehampton and its hamlets have just a few days left to have their say on shaping future plans for the town through the neighbourhood plan.

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 is the questionnaire gathering information from townspeople to help shape the plan. Questionnaires have been sent out to every household in the town and hamlets and people have until Saturday, April 30 to submit them.

James Cox, chair of the neighbourhood plan working group, said: ‘People can do this via their phone and tablet through the website. I spoke with a lot of people that just put anything colourful straight into the recycling. We need to stress the significance of this.’

The questionnaire was put together following a launch event for the neighbourhood plan last year. Questions were put together following comments made by visitors to the launch meeting.

The neighbourhood plan for Okehampton is being taken forward by Okehampton town and hamlets councils and a voluntary working group; 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.

Questionnaire forms can be dropped into the town hall or drop boxes at the post office, London Inn, Ockment Centre, Costcutter, Stepping Stones, Waitrose, Okehampton Library, Mole Avon and Okehampton Primary School. Alternatively they can be posted to Okehampton Town Hall, Fore Street, Okehampton, EX20 1AA.

Upon receipt of a completed questionnaire, individuals will be entered into a cash prize draw to win £100, £50 or £25.

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

Visit the website www.okehamplan.btck.co.uk for more information and to get an additional questionnaire for another member of the family.

To complete the questionnaire online visit the website www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/OkeHamPlanRes

Late entries will be accepted within the first week of May.