PEOPLE in Droitwich Spa are being urged to have their say on plans that will shape future development in the town.

Decisions on the South Worcestershire Development Plan, which will be taken in the next few weeks, could change the face of the community, according to Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff.

The three district councils of South Worcestershire, including Wychavon, are now consulting on major changes to “preferred options" for where houses should go over the next twenty years. It is the latest phase in the establishment of the development plan.

Mr Luff is urging people to get involved, saying: “Too often people wake up to these issues when it’s too late. They think planning is boring and technical – and then realise it’s too late to stop things happening they didn’t know about.

“The three councils are conducting a first-rate and detailed consultation process – but this latest stage has to be quite speedy because the longer we are without a plan the more at risk our fields are to speculative development in the wrong place.

“So go to the South Worcestershire development plan website, check how your community may be affected by the changes and go to the public consultation sessions being planned around Wychavon.

“If you don’t like what is proposed, say so now. If you leave it to others to stand up for your community, you’re taking a great risk. Ask your parish or town council what it thinks, and ask it to put in its views – but do it before the consultation closes on September 14.”

There will be a full consultation on the plan itself which will begin in November, with the public examination of the plan next spring.

The Droitwich consultation event will be held at the town’s Parish Centre, St Andrews Street, from 4 - 8pm on Tuesday, August 21.