Over 150 people visited the CR3 Forum event on the Caterham, Chaldon & Whyteleafe Neighbourhood Plan, held on 5th October at Soper Hall. The event was the first of several to be held over the next year, where a plan is to be created and local residents will be able to provide their own views.

At this event, attendees learnt of the current work being carried out and emerging ideas, as well as providing feedback on the event content.

Six key sectors were covered:

1. Housing: Identifying local housing needs as well as preference of urban, rural design, heritage or green belt areas yet sustaining a vibrant environment.

2. Transport: Identifying transport needs and improvements including roads, parking and pollution.

3. Services: Identifying the community needs including health, schools, police and other services. Considering the services that are required locally and existing service improvements.

4. Leisure: Maintaining existing leisure activities in addition to improving the area.

5. Business: The health of the town centre areas for retail and other business. Research is being undertaken on a Business Improvement District (BID) as part of these needs.

6. Utilities: The group is assembling ideas for the next 20 years on utilities such as power, water, gas and telecoms, whilst identifying current improvements that could be made.

Chairman Geoff Duck said: "This was a great first event at which we had a chance to tell people more about this project and the emerging evidence and ideas for the Neighbourhood Plan. There will be a local referendum for everybody to vote on this next October (2014), however in the meantime we plan several more events to provide progress reports and an opportunity for everyone to participate."

The Neighbourhood Plan will contain a number of policies which will affect planning regulations locally, as well as others designed to set overall priorities and directions for the future.

For more information, please register at www.cr3forum.org.uk to receive the latest news and dates for future events relating to the plan.

Photographs by Chris Botten.