ABOUT 80 people were in Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Hall to hear ideas for future housing for the village plus raising a community fund and creating a Neighbourhood Plan.

The meeting had been called by John and Debbie Skinner who are offering the field next to their home, above which is Arthur’s Wood. Mr Skinner said: “The idea of the meeting was not a planning meeting, but to say to people ‘this is the idea, what do you think and have you any suggestions how we can change it and what do you think is wrong with it?’

“The idea was, here’s the plan, go away and think about it and either use the forms here or respond via the website,” he said.

Comments can be left in the box in the foyer of the parish hall or delivered to Mr and Mrs Skinner at Bramble Orchard, White Cross, Cheriton Fitzpaine EX17 4HD or through the www.cheritonfitz.com website.

This says the aim is to develop a vision for Cheriton Fitzpaine and to help that vision progress to a fully accredited Neighbourhood Plan for the parish with right to develop included.

“With a fully crafted Neighbourhood Plan expressing the will of Cheriton Fitzpaine, all outsiders will have to take note.

“It will show that Cheriton has a team of locals with enduring ideas for the benefit of the village and its environs - a team who will deal with all on an equal basis.”

Mr Skinner says he is putting his head above the parapet, setting out some ideas for discussion, asking for more ideas.

He added: “There is too much at stake not to do a Neighbourhood Plan, it has a legal status.”

A Neighbourhood Plan is a community-led framework for guiding future development, regeneration and conservation of an area.

It is about use and development of land, may deal with a wide range of issues including housing, employment, heritage and transport, or may focus on one or two issues only.

This plan could use the 5.25 acre site for housing which would raise funds for a parish fund for work such as improving paths to and around Arthur’s Wood, more allotments for the parish, and other work such as funding purchase of a community bus, helping parish organisations and more.

Mr Skinner added that the village had young people who needed starter homes and older people who wanted to move from a large home into something smaller, releasing three or four bedroom homes.

“As I see it, you would have a variety of homes. Social housing is allocated elsewhere in the parish,” Mr Skinner added.

• What do you think of the plan? Share your views with other Courier readers. Send a letter, suitable for publication, to the Crediton Courier, 102 High Street, Crediton, EX17 3LF or email: [email protected] .

Sue Read