EVERY household in a South East Cornwall parish has received a newsletter asking them to help shape the future of the area they live in.

And the strong message to the people of Dobwalls and Trewidland is: “Don’t ignore this. It’s your last chance to influence what the parish looks like over the next decade.”

The eight-page newsletter is the latest initiative towards creating a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) for the parish.

The government’s Localism Act allows communities to produce neighbourhood plans based on what those communities actually want to see happen.

Many parishes in Cornwall have already done so and more are in the process.

The newsletter brings parishioners up to date on the draft policies to be included in the Dobwalls and Trewidland plan across topics including the environment, roads, transport, community facilities, employment, the local economy - and the contentious issue of housing. The parish has experienced considerable residential development in recent years.

The policies are based on the views given so far by local people through completing questionnaires and surveys and attending public exhibitions and meetings.

Now the parishioners and local businesses have one last chance to shape the final draft of the plan.

Councillor John Dunn, chairman of the steering group, said: “For more than four years a small group has been working tirelessly towards putting the plan in place.

“Now it is nearing fruition. The information gained so far has been invaluable and has enabled the steering group to draft a plan which we feel is a fair reflection of the views of the parishioners.

“However, you have one last chance to give us any further comments before we finalise it. I strongly urge you to let us have any additional views and opinions.

“Once this plan has been adopted it will give us greater control over the future of our parish up to the year 2030 and, hopefully, help to protect us from future over-development. So, please take the time to give us your feedback.”

The newsletter includes a mini survey, and the deadline for sending it back or completing it online is February 21.

The full draft of the Neighbourhood Development Plan is on the website http://www.dobwallsandtrewidlandplan.org.uk/It’s likely to be the autumn at the earliest before the plan is finally adopted by Cornwall Council. In the meantime it will have to be independently examined, and agreed by a majority in a parish referendum.