RESPONSES from a questionnaire sent out by Calstock Parish Council in relation to the creation of a Neighbourhood Plan have been collated, with a top five list of issues affecting residents identified — and the project is now set to move into phase two.

Calstock Parish Council is in the process of creating a Neighbourhood Plan for the parish — a community-led framework for guiding future development, regeneration and conservation of the area, giving the community more power in local planning development following the Government's decision to simplify the planning process in Cornwall.

The plan will allow the parish council to develop its own planning policies reflecting the priorities of local people.

A neighbourhood plan can take up to two years to create. A dedicated neighbourhood planning team, involving a mix of councillors and members of the community of Calstock parish, have just completed phase one of the project.

The first phase was to send out a scoping questionnaire to all members of the community, seeking public opinion as to what items of planning should be included in the plan.

Parish councillor Jane Moore said: 'Phase one of the plan, which has been about gathering views on the scope of the plan, has been completed.

'We received 200 responses, which is a return rate of nine percent. Of the responses, 97 percent were in favour of the parish council proceeding with a neighbourhood plan.'

The top five issues to involve in the plan, identified by residents, were conserving village character, affordable housing, green space between villages, transport links and wild habitats.

Cllr Moore said: 'The other seven issues making up the top dozen issues were facilities for young people and families, locations for residential development, facilities for local residents, wind turbines, second homes, parking for cars and boats and conserving history and buildings.'

Phase two of the project is due to begin next month and will look at structuring the findings and developing the plan in consultation with local people.

'The strategy board has begun exploratory work on phase two of the plan and it is anticipated this will start in January,' said Cllr Moore.

'This phase will also involve a number of community engagement events, which will be advertised around the parish.

'Please come to as many as you can to ensure that your views on the future of the parish are heard.'