YOUNG people in southern Oxfordshire were given the chance to have their say on future development.

A group of 86 children and teenagers aged between seven and 16 attended two ‘Vision of the Future’ drop-in sessions organised by a steering group which is developing Wootton and St Helen Without Neighbourhood Plan.

The events took place at Dalton Barracks Community Centre in Shippon on Wednesday and Thursday at Wootton Community Centre.

There were games, activities, a climbing wall and the chance to take part in arts and crafts, as well as the opportunity to talk about how the young people want their communities to develop over the next 15 years.Their ideas will all be fed into the Neighbourhood Plan, which once completed will be used as part of the process for determining future planning applications.

One of the organisers Richard Bahu said: “We really want young people to get involved and have their say. It was great to have so many of them giving their views and ideas. This is invaluable in helping us to shape our plan and we’re very grateful to them all for coming along.

Wootton and St Helen Without started work on their Neighbourhood Plan in March last year and it is expected to be completed later this year. Visit wshwnp.org.uk for more information.