Residents and workers within the area covered by Cherwell District Council have until Friday to have a say on the future of the district.

About 53,000 copies of the draft community plan, Vision 2016, have been sent to homes and businesses as part of a consultation process by the Cherwell Community Planning Partnership.

CCCP wants to know if the key themes of the draft plan reflect local needs and wishes for the future of the area for the next 15 years. They are:

Reducing crime and tackling drugs

Improving health standards and reducing inequalities

Raising the standard of education

Promoting prosperity and maintaining a vibrant economy

Providing more affordable housing

Developing the local environment

Improving recreation facilities

Preserving and enhancing the quality of rural life

Preserving the unique characters of the area's centres.

Public feedback will be considered when the partnership finalises the plan during February and March. The completed plan is due to be published in April.

Grahame Handley, the council's chief executive, said: "It is important for everyone to be involved in the plan because it touches everyone's lives.

"I strongly encourage anyone who has not responded to do so before the deadline."