THE LAUNCH of Marlborough’s Neighbourhood Plan consultation drew an impressive crowd with over 150 people attending the open day at the Town Hall.

Launched by Town Cryer Mike Tupman, people in the High Street were called in to share their ideas on the Neighbourhood Plan with the Steering Group on Saturday (June 18).

Still in the first stages of the Neighbourhood Plan, residents of Marlborough are being invited to tell the Steering Group what areas should be focused on, be it housing, employment and more before the Plan is drafted.

Shelley Parker, Marlborough Town Clerk, said: “We are all very pleased with the launch of the consultation, to have such a positive response from the community is great. The Neighbourhood Plan will be published next year. As we are a town of outstanding natural beauty there will be an assessment that will be checked with the EU regulations.”

People who turned up to the consultation were asked to give feedback on the areas which they feel should be covered as well as opinions on the surrounding villages like Preshute and Mildenhall.

Councillor Mervyn Hall, chairman of the Steering Group, said: “It went very well, we got a really good response from people in the town. We have piles and piles of feedback to sort through which is really good. I am very pleased that our first event went so well, it is a very good start. We will be having a stall at MantonFest to gather more responses from people on the Plan. It isn’t about what the Steering Group wants but what the public wants. The plan will then go to a referendum.”

The consultation is set to continue with plans to engage with the parishes, young people, older people in care homes and more.

As well as the opportunity to give feedback to the Steering Group, people were also given the chance to enter the Marlborough Quiz with the chance to win a lunch for two, donated by The Marlborough.

Anyone wishing to submit their views on the area to go forward in the Neighbourhood Plan are invited to the Steering Group’s stall at MantonFest on Saturday or visit the website at www.manp.co.uk.