A MAJOR neighbourhood plan to transform the historic market town of Ringwood is now open to formal consultation.

On Wednesday, January 25, Ringwood Town Council approved the pre-submission Neighbourhood Plan which aspires to rejuvenate the town with improvements covering connectivity, the public realm, shop front guidance and overall infrastructure.

During this consultation process, members of the public, the local planning authorities and other stakeholders will be consulted and their feedback used to update the plan which covers the town for the next 13 years.

The proposals would see the Market Place become a more pedestrian and cycle friendly shared space and allow for restaurants and bars to 'spill out' into the space for outside dining.

Pedestrian access between The Furlong, Meeting House Lane, Market Place and High Street would also be improved, with landscape interventions such as wall removals, decorative paving designs, better signage and direction paving inlays proposed.

A sustainable transport hub has also been suggested offering a full suite of complementary transport modes allowing people to switch easily between ones mode and another.

The chair of the Neighbourhood Plan steering group, Councillor John Haywood, said: "I'm really pleased to be able to announce that the Neighbourhood Plan is ready for formal consultation. A lot of hard work by the team has got us to this stage - and most of the team are volunteers giving their time for free."

Town mayor Cllr Gareth Deboos added: "A Neighbourhood Plan encourages local development appropriate for a parish by setting conditions on things like housing, design and heritage, and environmental performance.

"A plan for Ringwood can restrict inappropriate development as well as encouraging policies that enhance the area, including the centre of our historic market town, for the next decade. The pre-submission document has been produced by Ringwood people for Ringwood people - now is the time for all parishioners to have their say."

Public consultation began on February 6 and will end on March 19.

A number of public drop-in sessions are planned in Ringwood Gateway, Ringwood Library and Poulner Junior School.

Once consultation is complete and the feedback incorporated into a final version of the plan, it will be examined by a government inspector.

It will then be put to a referendum, where Ringwood residents will make the final decision on whether to accept the plan.

Visit ringwoodnp.org.uk for more information.