With the eight-week public consultation on the district's future approaching the half way point, Teignbridge Council has urged residents to keep the comments coming.

The authority is consulting on a draft 20-year plan for the area, outlining how jobs, facilities, homes, green spaces and more will be provided.

The roadshows staged so far have attracted 1,300 people. With more than 56,000 households in the 260 square mile district, the message was clear – keep talking.

Housing spokesman Cllr Philip Vogel said: 'We're really pleased with the turnout for the consultation so far, which has been much stronger than many we've run in the past. It's great that residents are engaging in the plan and showing an interest, and whatever their views we welcome them with open arms.

"This is a major piece of work which will have an impact on our future. Planning can sometimes seem a bit technical or dull, but this is real stuff. It's about where our children go to school and exercise, where they'll live in the future, how we can improve our economy and help provide a job for every working age person in Teignbridge.

'It's about homes for those in need, protecting the environment, improving public transport and more. It gives more power to rural areas to pick the development that's right for them, giving a lifeline to areas which need to sustain shops, post offices and local facilities.'

He added:?'Our experience so far shows us that people hold many varied views. That's fine by us. Those views are important and the point of a consultation is to listen to all of them, positive, negative and indifferent. We'll need to balance those with other evidence and what independent experts tell us and use it to complete a plan for a bright future.

'Don't wait until it's too late. Please take the time to find out more and give us your views. The more people we hear from, the stronger we can make this plan for our future.'

The consultation ends at 4.30pm on Friday, March 2.