Information and a brief questionnaire are being distributed to all houses in Thornham via the parish magazine, Link, this month, said Mr Joe Davis, speaking on behalf of the sub-committee developing the plan at April's parish council meeting.

Its members are hoping for a high level of response to the preliminary survey, and aim to be in a position to present a draft report to the annual parish meeting next month.

The meeting also heard that the completed questionnaires can be returned via the village shop, All Saints' Church, or at the home of Councillor Morris.

Details of how to reply via email will also be made available in Link.

Chairman Mrs Wendy Brooks encouraged everyone to make their ideas known to the council via the initial survey to ensure that the plan is representative of the village community and can help to meet their needs through its future planning.

The combined annual parish meeting and annual meeting of the council will take place on Wednesday, May 28, in the Drill Hall starting at 7pm.

This is set to be one of the most important meetings held in the village for some years as it has the opportunity to mark out the future of the village in a number of significant ways.

It is hoped that many of the permanent residents and the village's weekend community will attend to participate in the discussion.

Also reporting to the annual meeting will be Mr John Warham who is working with the treasurer of the playing field committee to develop a strategic plan for the further development of the new playing field and potential village hall.

The draft document is currently out to consultation with village committees and was on display at the Easter flower festival held in the church. Many positive views were heard and constructive suggestions offered.

The open session of the April meeting heard concerns raised by Adrian Brown about inappropriate parking at the Easter weekend on the green at the north end of Church Street.

The same problem had previously been solved when a former parishioner had donated oak posts which had been planted to prevent parking around the green opposite The Orange Tree.

The poor state of maintenance of the greens by the borough council was also aired.

It was agreed that the clerk would contact the borough council to confirm the details of the contract for maintenance of the greens, to ask whether it would help with the provision of posts and to request the removal of the road diversion signs still littering the village.

Mr Needham reported that an offer to donate a bench on the new playing field had been made by the daughter of the late Mrs Cobb in memory of both her parents. This was gratefully accepted and a formal letter of thanks will be sent.

It had been brought to the attention of the chairman by a resident that trees which were the subject of a preservation order had been felled during building work in the village.