CHRISTCHURCH councillors are appealing for people to join the oversight group for the area’s neighbourhood plan before applications close.

Residents are being warned that this is their last chance to join the steering committee for the Christchurch Neighbourhood Plan, with the deadline for applications tomorrow.

Christchurch Parish Councillor Michael Tarling said: “We have had a very strong response so far with 14 applications at the moment, however we feel underrepresented by people of working age and those with young families in the area.

“With applications closing on September 30, there is still time for people to sign up and put their thoughts across

“To apply, you can write to the town clerk or you can get in contact with me.”

After applications close, members of the Neighbourhood Plan will select seven residents to work with Dorset planning consultants to design the consultation for residents to look at and decide on.

Cllr Tarling added: “One of the first things we will have to do is decide the boundary in which of the Neighbourhood Plan area.

“Things like more housing development in the area and what kind of development it would be can be discussed but it will have to be the right stuff.

“With the recent changes in government policy giving more powers to local authorities. These takes a lot of powers away from BCP Council so the few ways in which people can have their say on what they want in their area or if they want to keep Christchurch the way people want it is through the Neighbourhood Plan."