PEOPLE in Southwold are being asked to contribute to a key document that will influence future development in the town.

A major public opinion survey of is being conducted across the whole community to decide what should go in Southwold's town plan.

The finished document will aim to set out an achievable and long-term vision for the future.

People are now being sought to collect and deliver questionnaires to every home in Southwold, and some in Reydon.

A meeting for prospective helpers is being held in the Cardinal Newman Hall, behind the post office in Southwold, on Tuesday at 6pm.

Volunteers have already devoted the last few months to devising questions to gauge people's opinions on issues ranging from defending Southwold from rising sea levels to the best sites for litter bins.

The questions were tested during a drop-in day attended by more than 120 people in September and sample questionnaires have also been completed by a number of randomly- selected residents.

Richard Dales, chairman of the town plan steering group, said he hoped people would come forward to help with this next stage of drawing up a plan for Southwold's future.

He added: 'Making sure that everybody gets a questionnaire, and thus can give their views, will be a big undertaking. We intend to distribute a questionnaire to every home in Southwold, and some in Reydon too in order to sound out Reydon residents on their ideas about Southwold.

'For this we need volunteers willing to deliver and later collect questionnaires. Questionnaires can be completed online, and we hope that many people will do this, but as we do not know who can go online, we have to make sure that a paper version reaches every home.'

Questionnaires will be distributed to homes later this month followed by businesses and visitors who have given their contact details.

Owners of second homes in Southwold who would like to receive a questionnaire should send a stamped, self-addressed envelope marked Southwold Town Plan and big enough to hold a 30-page document to: Southwold Town Hall or Spots, High Street, Southwold, IP18 6AA.

?Anyone keen to volunteer to help but is unable to attend the meeting should inform the town clerk on 01502 722576 or email info@southwoldtownplan.org.uk The town plan survey is separate to the housing needs survey recently commission by Southwold Town Council.