Now is your chance to give feedback on plans that will shape Budleigh Salterton for generations to come.

Budleigh Salterton Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan - which covers a variety of topics, including housing, heritage, business and protecting the environment - has been received by the district council and the public has six weeks, until March 20, to view the document and react.

The planning policy document, used by the district council’s development management team when considering planning applications within the parish, has been months in the making. It will go through several more processes until it is rubber-stamped and becomes legally recognised as part of the development plan for East Devon.

Budleigh’s mayor, Councillor Chris Kitson, said the consultation period was an ‘ideal opportunity’ for the community to see what had been included in the plan for their town.

Councillor Mark Williamson, East Devon District Council’s lead councillor for neighbourhood planning, said: “Those volunteers who have worked on the plan deserve double recognition.

“They are the first town in East Devon to bring a neighbourhood plan to submission stage - and they have done so in just two years.

“It is very well designed and will be easy to use in making important decisions about the future of this historic and much-loved town.”

The district council has to consult on the plan before it goes to an independent examiner, who will inspect the plan to ensure that it meets ‘basic conditions’.

Any comments received will be made available on the district council’s website with copies also sent to the examiner for consideration.

If the examiner concludes the plan fulfils the required criteria, it will go to a community referendum. If more than half of the electors in the area vote in favour of the plan, it will become part of the statutory development plan for East Devon.

The plan, supporting documents and a comments form can be found on the East Devon website: http://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood-and-community-plans/neighbourhood-plans/current-plan-and-neighbourhood-area-consultations/