RESIDENTS in the parish of Wool are being urged to have their say on a blueprint that could help shape development in the area for the next 25 years.

The Wool Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, formed last year, wants to create a Wool, Bovington & East Burton Neighbourhood Plan.

Every address in the parish should receive a leaflet asking what they would like to see, and what they would not like to see, in the parish.

The aim of this questionnaire, to be returned by October 31, is to allow work to continue on developing a draft plan.

There will also be a series of drop-in sessions during September for people to learn more and give their views.

Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group chairman Martin Hiles said: "We are facing huge growth so we want to give the community a voice and to create some legally binding policies to help shape our future."

Plans for hundreds of new homes in the parish, which includes Bovington and East Burton, prompted residents and the parish council to create the neighbourhood plan.

Developer Savills has written to Dorset Council outlining its intention to submit applications for the development of four sites in the village for up to 470 houses.

Steering group vice chairman Steve Smith said: "We want to make the parish a better place for the next generations and we can only do that if people have their say and get involved."

The steering group also wants to increase any funding available to improve facilities in the parish, and to identify and protect important green spaces and to influence what new homes should look like.

After a draft plan is developed with policies that could influence future planning decisions, it will be handed to a government planning inspector for approval.

This final document will then be put to a referendum so local people can vote yes or no to adopt the plan.

Drop-in sessions are set for:

n The Durbeville Centre, Colliers Lane, Wool, September 6, from 10am-12pm

n East Burton Village Hall, Burton Road, September11, from 6-8pm.

n The Durbevelille Centre, Colliers Lane, Wool, September 14, from 10am-12pm

n East Burton Village Hall, Burton Road, September 17, from 10am-12pm

n The Royal British Legion, King George V Road, Bovington, September 24, from 10am-12pm

n The Royal British Legion, King George V Road, Bovington, September 24, from 6-8pm

n The Durbeville Centre, Colliers Lane, Wool, September 25, from 6-8pm