DURING 2014 West Devon Borough Council strategic planning staff have been preparing a replacement for the existing Local Plan/Core Stategy, which was to have lasted until 2026. The new one, called 'Our Plan', will be the overarching strategic plan for the whole borough until 2031, covering such issues as community wellbeing, energy needs, landscape protection, employment growth, housing and infrastructure.   A public consultation on several important parts of the Plan is going on at the moment but there has been very little publicity about it.  I am worried that the majority of the public don't know about it and will not have the chance to express their views before the closing date, January 5, 2015. I'm sure you are all very busy preparing for Christmas but it is really important that we all find out about what is being proposed — in particular how much development WDBC say is needed and where it should go — and send them our comments. You can find details of Our Plan at http://www.westdevon.gov.uk/ourplan">www.westdevon.gov.uk/ourplan So why not grab a mince pie and have a look at the information now?  And don't forget to tell WDBC what you think by January 5! Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas. Alison Wright Whitchurch