The man heading the public consultation on controversial housing plans for Didcot has vowed to regain the town's trust.

South Oxfordshire District Council's cabinet member for planning, John Cotton, has admitted the council had made mistakes in the past. But he appealed for residents to work with him to rebuild the relationship.

He told the Oxford Mail: "My message to the people of Didcot is help me to earn your trust. The quicker we can trust each other, the quicker we can move on to nitty gritty things."

But he said he understood residents' scepticism.

"Their mistrust is understandable given what's happened historically. We're trying to demonstrate things will be different this time around and gradually we will get there," he said.

Last week, he told a meeting, at Didcot Town Football Club, aimed at reviving the consultation process: "In the past, there has not been that level of trust. That is what has to change."

Mr Cotton gave representatives of community groups an overview of the current expansion plans, and said the council wanted residents' help in shaping the future of the town.

Mr Cotton said the only decisions taken so far were that growth at Didcot would happen, and would be split equally between sites in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. The town is earmarked for a further 9,000 homes over the next two decades - expansion that would double the existing population.

Around 4,500 homes are already planned, at sites including Ladygrove East and Great Western Park, and a further 4,500 homes are included in the South East Plan, the blueprint for regional growth between 2016 and 2026.

Representatives were asked to outline the key issues facing the town and prioritise methods of consultation, including newsletters, public meetings, a dedicated website and local workshops.

The top five issues identified were road infrastructure, public transport, community and youth provision, public services, including health and education, and leisure and recreation facilities.

The results of both workshops will be analysed by the council and the results will be presented at a meeting on March 22.