AN innovative plan to bring a West Devon community closer together begins next month.

A survey is being sent out to all residents in Bere Alston to find out what people value and what improvements they would like to see in the area.

The new approach is the brainchild of West Devon Community Safety Partnership, which will coordinate the different agencies who work in the community and the local people who live there.

The partnership, whose members include West Devon Borough Council, Devon County Council, the police and health authorities, wants to see whether a holistic approach can really make a difference.

Gretta Madigan, partnership chairman, said: ?Bere Alston is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a lovely place to live.

?However, it is a bit isolated and there are limited facilities, especially for young people. We feel this is a good time for an all-out effort to provide lots for young people to do and at the same time build on the community spirit that already exists.?

Nick Payne, the borough?s lead officer on the partnership, said: ?In the past, things have been carried out in Bere Alston in isolation. We want to get everyone together, find out what they would like, and then help local people make those things happen.?

The process starts on April 26, when volunteers are needed to deliver a survey to all households in Bere Alston.

The survey will provide valuable information and assess residents? opinions on different aspects of the community.

Most importantly, the survey will be used to investigate the extent to which residents are willing to become involved in future community groups and projects.

In addition, the views of the younger members of the Bere Alston community ? from five to 18 years ? will be sought and used in future community initiatives.

The Partnership is delighted that Bere Alston Primary School and Tavistock College have already indicated that they wish to be actively involved.

If anyone is interested in helping deliver the survey, please contact Deborah Henderson, West Devon community safety officer on 01822 813720. Alternatively, email