A TOWN gathering on February 22 looked back to earlier days with the visit of a vintage bus and town crier — but the town has its eyes firmly on the future as part of a Neighbourhood Plan project.

At least 180 families had responded to the call by North Tawton Town Council to complete a 25 page questionnaire giving their views on how they see the town developing in the years ahead.

Neighbourhood Plan project Leader Pete Brickley said: 'It is really gratifying that so many people are prepared to spend time and effort working with each other to help secure the future of the town.

'We are expecting many more of these questionnaires to be completed in this final week of the consultation period and these will form a part of our new Town Development Plan. 

'There have been community surveys before, but this is the first time that one of them will have statutory power. 

'The new Localism Act has changed how towns and villages can participate in long term planning, giving much more power to local communities. The people of North Tawton are clearly all for it.'