THURLESTONE parish residents are being given the opportunity to shape the future of their community with two Neighbourhood Plan meetings.

Families in the villages of Bantham, Buckland and Thurlestone are getting together to discuss possible improvements to facilities and amenities across the parish.

Two drop-in sessions are planned for Tuesday, March 29, and Tuesday, April 5, in Thurlestone parish hall from 11am to 1pm, to find out how families in the area would like to see the parish develop over the next 15 years.

It is all part of the Neighbourhood Plan currently being undertaken by the parish which will guide planning and help shape development in the area up until 2030.

The events will focus on the ’Wellbeing’ element of the plan, which covers health, education, sport and recreation, protecting the natural landscape and open spaces. Refreshments will be provided and there will be special tables just for the children with games, colouring and a few Easter treats.

Steering group member Sue Crowther says: ‘It’s really important that we get as much feedback as possible from families in the parish because it is their input which will help inform the plan.

‘We want to know what they value, what things are important and what we can do to make the parish a vibrant and healthy community.’

Results from the events will be fed into a questionnaire to be circulated to all residents over the coming weeks. Other aspects of the plan include housing and the local economy.

To find out more, residents are invited to the Parish Hall on Tuesday, April 12, at 7.30pm for a presentation and question and answer session by Martin Parkes of Devon Communities Together, on what the plan means for the area.

For more information, visit the parish’s website: www.thurlestoneparish.co.uk