People are being asked to comment on an idea to turn March into a neighbourhood area to give people a say on planning matters.

March Town Council has applied to Fenland District Council to designate the parish of March as a neighbourhood area.

If the application is approved it will be the first step for the town council in preparing a neighbourhood plan.

The plan for March means the town council would be able to establish planning policies for the development and use of land including where new homes and offices should be built and what they should look like.

Residents of March would be fully involved in the preparation of the neighbourhood plan and will have the right to vote at a referendum.

No plan can be adopted unless it passes a referendum, although it is possibly two years until such a vote can take place.

The current consultation is about where boundaries should lie.

The plan may be viewed online at www.fenland.gov.uk/neighbourhood-planning.

Details of the application and a map of the proposed boundary are also being displayed at March Library, March @ your service shop in Broad Street, Fenland Hall Business Reception, March Town Council at The Town Hall.

People are able to submit comments on the application until 5pm on Monday November 11.

Comments can be made either by email to neighbourhoosdstrategy@fenland.gov.uk or by post to Neighbourhood Strategy (Planning Policy Team), Fenland District Council, Fenland Hall, County Road, March PE15 8NQ.