TOWN councillors in Bovey Tracey have given an initial reaction that residents of Heathfield should be consulted to see if they want their own parish council.
The town council finance, resources and general purposes committee agreed on Monday that investigations should go ahead to see if the parishioners want a parting of the ways.
With some 640 houses in Heathfield, there is now a population of around 2,000, with 1,200 registered electors and the council has made it clear it wants residents to make the choice.
Cllr David Elphick, who, with Cllr Val Brewster, represent Heathfield on the town council, said they would be exploring the possibility of a separate parish council.
'We want to determine the strength of feeling. A number of residents have already expressed an interest in forming the new council.
'I think it is something that the Heathfield community would like, and I have enough people already to stand as parish councillors,' he said.
At last May's town and parish elections, Heathfield had its own ward, though Cllr Elphick was the only one to put his name forward and Cllr Brewster was later co-opted.
If there is backing in strength from the residents, proposals for the new parish council would have to go to Teignbridge Council and the Boundaries Commission for ratification before it could get up and running.
That would mean the earliest an election could be held would be May 2007.
Residents of Heathfield are asked to write their views on whether they would like their own parish council, to the town clerk Terry West, Bovey Tracey Town Council, the Town Hall, Bovey Tracey, or to contact Cllr Elphick, telephone 01626 832125.