Residents are to vote on the future of a popular seaside tourist resort as a referendum is held on a vision to provide more affordable housing and better job prospects there over the next 20 years.

Parish councillors have spent the last four years drawing up the Kessingland Neighbourhood Plan amid fears young people are leaving to take up job opportunities and cheaper homes elsewhere. It has devised a blueprint for three areas of new housing development, including one which would be kept exclusively for those with a connection to the village in order to encourage them to stay.

And there would also be a new children's centre, along with a new 60-bed care home - both of which were approved by Waveney District Council's planning committee last month.

Kessingland Parish Council chairman Liam Martin said: 'We're trying to get as many people out there to vote.'

The idea of new zones for housing development is to try and give residents some say over where new homes could go, instead of developers having free reign across the village. The care home and nursery are designed to provide facilities for two important sections of the community, with a growing elderly population and young families struggling to find nearby childcare.

The poll will take place on Thursday, November 24, with polling stations around the village open between 7am and 10pm.

Before then people will be able to view the plans on the parish council's website.

They will also be able to attend an open day at the Marram Green community facility on Saturday, November 19, between 10am and 4pm, toask any questions they might have about the plan.

What do you think? Email andrew.papworth@archant.co.uk