EARLY last year, the Crediton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group carried out several surveys with different groups in the town.

The largest survey was all the households, which had 1,200 responses.

Businesses, schoolchildren and students also took part in surveys designed specifically to get their views.

Since the surveys were completed, the Steering Group has held meetings with Mid Devon District Council and a planning advisor to discuss how Crediton’s plan could be developed.

The survey results will influence policies for the Neighbourhood Plan and help to create the vision for the town in the future.

As a first step towards this, the Steering Group has published the Neighbourhood Plan Aims and Objectives.

This was first presented at the Annual Town Meeting in March. It is now being emailed to all those residents who said they would like to be kept in touch with developments.

It is also available on the Neighbourhood Plan website: www.Creditonnp.co.uk .

Councillor Andi Wyer, vice chairman of the group explained: “It has taken quite a while to get this far.

“Our aims and objectives will underpin the plan policies, so we have to be sure they are the right ones.

“Our plan must be in general conformity with both the Mid Devon District Council Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework. Because of that, we have had to get lots of advice on the areas we can cover and what we can’t.

“But we now know what we’re aiming for in broad terms.

“We’re pleased that we’ve been able to talk to the developers of the Wellparks and Pedlarspool sites about local opinions on the importance of the town setting, for example, and the importance of pedestrian and cycle connections to the town centre.

“We wouldn’t have those opinions without the survey work we’ve done and now that’s all been included in our Aims and Objectives.”

Over the coming months, the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group will work on policies that will achieve the aims and objectives.

Everyone in the town will have a chance to see the complete plan when it is finalised.

The Steering Group says the intention is to keep pace with the district council’s Local Plan which it is hoped will get approval early next year.

Alan Quick