The Highland Council is asking for local people to submit suggestions for inclusion in the future planning of Caithness and Sutherland.

Work has already commenced on the forthcoming Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan (CaSPlan), but to assist with its production, the Council are inviting those interested, to submit suggestions of sites that should be built on over the next five to 10 years.

In addition, they also want suggestions for those sites which should be protected from future development.

The Council also want people to identify issues for planning in the Caithness and Sutherland area and to suggest ideas for how to address them.

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The CaSPlan will be the second of three new area Local Development Plans, and once formally adopted, they will form part of the Council's "Development Plan", which, in turn, will guide planning officers during the determination of planning applications.

Chair of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee, Councillor Deirdre Mackay explained: "I urge residents and anyone else with an interest to get involved with the call for sites and ideas. It is really important that communities get involved from the start. It is your place and your plan so please engage with the process early, before any decisions are taken. Everyone has a right to say what kind of place they want to live in.

"Although the new Plan will focus on which areas of land will be built on or protected, these decisions should be shaped by wider concerns."

Anyone wishing to submit suggestions to the Council has until 5pm on 17 October 2013 to do so and should use the special form which is available via the Council's website.

Any suggestions submitted will be assessed by the Council before being issued for further public consultation.

(JP/CD)