PEOPLE living in Calne will have the chance to have their say on new developments that could be built in and around the area over the next 10 years.

The Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan steering group, chaired by Calne mayor Councillor Tom Rounds, are inviting members of the public to share their views on the draft plan which has taken nearly three years to complete.

"This is a land plan and this is what it is all about," Coun Rounds said. "It is about the community having their say on where developments take place in the future. While we are very close to fulfilling housing numbers required by Wiltshire Council that does not preclude us offering other areas for development. We are also hoping to entice companies to set up shop in Calne and one of our targets are high tech companies who could join those already in the town."

Other areas in Wiltshire have successfully set up the neighbourhood plan and Coun Rounds believes that community feedback is vital for the draft to succeed.

"Without community engagement, the neighbourhood plan is worthless and will not pass inspection," he said. "We have to show that we have consulted widely across the community at all levels and now is the time for the community to have their final say."

"If they do not like something that is in the plan or they want to add something that they think we have missed out then they can tell us - we are not geniuses, we are just people from every day life!

"We are excited that we have got to this point and we hope that we will get lots of comments from the community because this is what this is all about. It is their voice not ours."

The consultation period, which is now open, has been extended to take into account the Christmas and New Year break and will end until 5pm on Wednesday, January 11.

Paper copies of the plan are available online or from the Calne Visitor and Information Centre, Calne Community Hub and Library, Lansdowne Hall, Christ Church and The Village Stores and comments can be submitted by post to the Town Council for the attention of Claire Harris or by emailing her on charris@calne.gov.uk.