DARTMOOR National Park Authority is asking the public to help plan for the future of the park with a consultation on the first draft of the local plan for Dartmoor.

Since the local plan issues consultation in 2016, the forward planning team at Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) has been working hard to produce a first draft of the new local plan for Dartmoor, which is now nearly ready to share.

The public consultation period for the draft local plan will run from Monday, December 3 to Monday, February 4. During this period, the public will be able to view the draft local plan on the DNPA website and provide comments via an online form or in writing. Copies of the local plan will be on display at the DNPA offices and will be available to view at district and parish councils, local libraries and various information points across Dartmoor throughout the consultation period.

Public drop-in events will take place at the meeting room at Yelverton War Memorial Hall on Tuesday, December 11 from 3pm to 6pm, Whiddon Down Village Hall on Thursday, December 13 from 3pm to 6pm and Moretonhampstead Community Club on Tuesday, December 18 from 3pm to 6pm.

In addition to the drop-in events, the DNPA is also organising various local plan workshops for parish councils, local organisations and professionals.

DNPA chairman Bill Hitchins said: ‘The local plan review is a major project for the authority which will shape planning decisions on Dartmoor for years to come. The plan must find a careful balance between supporting communities and protecting Dartmoor’s precious environment for everyone to enjoy.’

Dan Janota, DNPA head of forward planning and economy, said: ‘We’re keen to give local people plenty of notice that the local plan will be out later in the year. When the plan comes out we’d like to know what you think, in particular the parts you like, as well as any you might like to see change. This is the second of three stages of consultation so it’s important that people give us feedback if they have views on how this will affect Dartmoor.’