VILLAGERS at East Stoke in Purbeck are drawing up a community plan to guide the future of their village.

So far 160 questionnaires have been distributed to local residents in a bid to involve everyone in the formation of the plan, called Update East Stoke.

The initiative is part of the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages Programme and organisers will be gathering comments at an open day due to be held in the village hall in November.

Parish council chairman Barry Quinn said: "The consultation process has started and we've set up working groups to look at particular areas and issues.

"We are one of a number of parishes in the Purbeck area producing a parish plan but we've decided to call it a community plan as it better reflects the involvement of the community."

Traffic along the A352 and the fate of the village hall have already been raised as key issues affecting the community.

A £3,000 grant from the Countryside Agency is funding the formation of the plan with local residents working closely with Dorset Community Action.

The final agreed document will earmark any community projects to be pursued and guide the community's reactions to future planning decisions.

What to do about the village hall will be one of the decisions to be made.

The hall dates back to the First World War and was refurbished after falling into disrepair in the 1970s.

The committee members who organised the refurbishment 25 years ago are now reaching retirement age.

A series of working groups are looking into a wide variety of topics and issues as part of the process of drawing up the community plan.

For details of the open day, or to get involved in the scheme contact East Stoke parish clerk Sue Barrett on 01929 481097.

First published: Sept 9