RESIDENTS can have their say on future developments in their area from this weekend.

Tiptree Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan goes to a six-week public consultation on Saturday.

An exhibition at the community centre in Caxton Close will be running from 10am to 3pm.

The plan will shape future development in the area for the next 15 years and will protect the community from speculative developments.

Paper copies of the plan can be found at the parish council offices, library and the Staines and Brights shop.

A council spokesman said: “It is vitally important the community is protected.

“Without the plan we will be vulnerable to speculative planning applications the Colchester planning officer would be unable to prevent.

“It would result in a free-for-all as far as developers were concerned.

“The council would have no control over where development occurred.”

For more details, email nptiptree@btconnect.com or call 01621 817030.