PEOPLE who live, work and shop in Northwich are being asked their opinions on how it should develop in the future.

The Northwich Neighbourhood Plan team has reached a 'critical step' in releasing a survey to discover what townsfolk think about housing and development sites, recreation, shopping, transport, employment opportunities, health and the environment.

David Roberts, chairman of the neighbourhood plan, said: "This residents survey will enable us to determine from a cross-section of the community exactly where we are going with the neighbourhood plan.

"From that we can begin to formulate a draft that will gradually emerge from the working groups.

"It's been carefully thought through and I hope is fairly easy to answer.

"It is a critical step."

David was speaking at the latest Northwich Town Council meeting where he emphasised how important the plan is to the town.

"This is a huge opportunity because as we all know, particularly since the advent of the large authorities, there's far less influence we can bring to bear on how our communities develop from a planning perspective," he said.

"This is a small step to try to redress that balance."

Anyone who uses Northwich is invited to take part in the survey.

The final Northwich Neighbourhood Plan will be subject of a referendum, although only residents within the parish area will be able to vote.

If it is accepted by residents and Cheshire West and Chester Council it will have the same weight in the planning process as a Local Plan.

David said: "We are attempting to put forward a process of planning and engagement with the community that reflects their opinions for the next 20 years or so that will then inform all the applications we get."

The form will be available online at northwichplan.org.uk.

Paper copies are also available at Northwich Library and the information centre.