VOLUNTEERS behind a plan that will shape Oldbury-on-Severn over the next two decades are calling on residents to have their say.

A Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) is intended to reflect the localised needs and issues of residents and set out a vision for the village and its future.

While it cannot block development that is already part of South Gloucestershire’s Local Plan, what the NDP can do is shape where that development will go and what it will look like.

Public consultation has already taken plan in early stage of the NDP, when it was launched as a parish plan in 2010, which resulted in the creation of the popular community shop.

There have been issues, however, in securing permission to create a small number of new homes in the village, which would be geared towards younger people getting on the property ladder and older people looking to downsize, due to the village being on a flood plain.

But the steering group have since worked with South Gloucestershire Council to produce a strategic flood risk assessment, which they have used along with the previous input of the public to progress the planning process.

Once a final draft has been put together, hopefully later in 2018, the plan will go out for a local referendum.

To gauge the public opinion of conclusions drawn thus far by the steering group, a public event is being held on Saturday, January 27.

Taking place at the Memorial Hall, the event will run from 12pm to 6pm, with residents invited to drop in and discuss the plan.

Barry Turner, chairman of the steering group, said: “It is of utmost importance that as many parishioners as possible take part so that we have a good cross-section of opinion.