WEST Dorset residents are being encouraged to have their say on the future of the county.

A consultation on the Dorset Council Local Plan began on Monday, January 18 and will run until March 15.

Once put into place, the local plan will be referred to guide planning applications until 2038.

Questions can be submitted in advance for the team to answer either as part of the webinar or in the days following. Dorset Council will aim to respond to all questions asked to each webinar on its webpage no later than two weeks afterwards.

The plan will go through several phases and will include a further chance for feedback on the ‘soundness’ of the plan. It will also be scrutinised by the planning inspectorate before it is adopted

There will also be surgeries for particular groups and town and parish councils available upon request.

The consultation is available at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning-buildings-land/planning-policy/dorset-council-local-plan.aspx

There are also paper copies of the plan available at local libraries through their click and collect services.