The growth of Godmanchester will “bring challenges” to the town in the future but councillors are keen to ensure that residents have their say through the launch of a new neighbourhood plan.

Godmanchester Town Council has drafted a plan and is inviting residents to give their views before it is submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council.

The Godmanchester plan will sit alongside Huntingdonshire District Council’s local plan to 2036, as the primary documents which guide decisions on planning applications within the town.

The mayor of Godmanchester, Councillor Peter Morgan, said: “Godmanchester will change in the future and we are keen to ensure the changes are for the better.

“Growth of the town will bring challenges but we will get money from the developers which can be spent on improving the town.

“We are writing a neighbourhood plan for Godmanchester so we can have a bigger say in what happens in the future. A neighbourhood plan can’t stop development but it does allow us to have our say about what sort of development we want and what services and infrastructure we will need to make it work for the good of everybody.

“It also allows us to have a bigger slice of the levy from developers directed back to our town for things that will make a difference at a local level.

“I hope local people will have a look at our ideas to improve the town and let us know their comment.”

The draft neighbourhood plan is on the town council’s web site: www.gmccoun-cil.com. A copy of the draft plan can also be viewed at the town hall, in Post Street.

The deadline for comments is January 4.

The council is holding three drop-in sessions for people to have a chat with councillors on November 14 (12-2pm and 5.30-7.30pm) and November 26 (10am-12pm), at the Queen Elizabeth School, in Post Street.