THE future of Thetford is in your hands.That is the message to residents today as a major public consultation begins which will dramatically change the shape and size of the town.

THE future of Thetford is in your hands.

That is the message to residents today as a major public consultation begins which will dramatically change the shape and size of the town.

Eighteen months after Thetford was designated a government growth point area, townsfolk will get their chance to say where 6,000 new homes should be built.

Community leaders yesterday urged residents to get involved in the six-week Thetford Area Action Plan consultation, which will see every home in the town and neighbouring village Croxton receive a questionnaire.

The Breckland Council issues and options document poses 22 multiple choice questions on which greenfield and brownfield sites should be developed for housing and employment growth by 2026.

Residents will also get to have their say on future town centre improvements, transport links, health, leisure, education, community and green infrastructure developments.

Stuart Wright, chairman of

the Thetford Society, who sits on the Moving Thetford Forward board, said it was important for local people to have their say, even if they were growing tired of consultation.

“Thetford is going to change whether we like it or not, so have your say in how you want it to be shaped. It's your community, be part of it,” he said.

The growth point initiative has already enabled Moving Thetford Forward to earmark £2.6m for redevelopment of the bus station and river frontage, green infrastructure projects, rail station access improvements and an audit of historic town buildings.

Richard Kay, principal planning officer for the Thetford growth point scheme, added: “This is your chance to make a growing and regenerating Thetford, not just a great place to be, but one of the most desirable places in the country. The best people to help decide exactly what should be done, where and when it should happen is you, whether you live, work, visit or have some other interest in Thetford.”

The public consultation exercise ends on August 5.

The consultation document is available online at www.movingthetfordforward.com or call the growth point team on 01842 756487.