RESIDENTS and businesses representatives in Witney flocked to the first public exhibition of the West Oxfordshire draft Local Plan.

Within the first hour of opening at the town’s Corn Exchange, scores of people had gathered to find out more about the proposals which concern the development of the district over the next 15 years.

Information boards and maps highlighted the key areas of the draft Local Plan under which a total of 15,950 homes are set to be built by 2031, while officers were on hand to answer questions.

West Oxfordshire District Council Leader James Mills said: “This is an opportunity for the public to have their say on the future development of the district and is incredibly important.

“Their suggestions feeds back directly to the council and we will examine them to see if there are any areas that need addressing.”

The draft Local Plan outlines key sites for development across the district, including 2,200 homes at the proposed garden village to the north of Eynsham along with an urban extension to the west of Eynsham which will add a further 1,000 new homes.

Other major sites include increasing the number of homes in North Witney from 1,000 to 1,400.

Further public exhibitions are being held from 2.30 to 8pm in Chipping Norton Town Hall today, in Carterton Town Hall on November 29, in Eynsham's St Leonard's Church Hall on December 12, and in Woodstock Community Centre on December 14.