TWO grants have enabled Poole's first Neighbourhood Forum to forge ahead with consultation and work on its plan.

Broadstone Neighbourhood Forum gained full recognition from Borough of Poole in February 2013 and was the first of its kind to be established in the town.

Since then its members have been working hard on developing a local plan covering the suburb of Poole, referred to by its 10,000 residents as "the village".

Surveys have been undertaken, drop-in sessions organised and considerable background information collected and processed.

“We have made a lot of progress since we started on the plan 18 months ago,” said Mike Brooke, the Forum’s chairman. “We have developed a number of important policies on open space, housing, access and movement, and sustainability that will help shape Broadstone’s future whilst protecting the best of what we have.

"However, we had no funding to enable us to test the level of support for these policies with our residents.”

Shortly before Christmas an opportunity arose to apply for government funding and the bid was successful.

“The £7,000 grant, which had to be spent within three months, enabled us to work with planning consultants to produce a number of options for improving the Broadway and to undertake a full public consultation on our policies,” added Mr Brooke.

Options include changing the parking, slowing traffic and providing pedestrian crossings and planting. Consultation runs until July 15 and copies of the document can be viewed on the website broadstoneneighbourhood.uk or on Poole Council's website. Hard copies are available at Molly's in the Broadway, Broadstone Library and Poole's planning department at the Civic Centre.

Broadstone Neighbourhood Forum has just learnt it has been successful in obtaining an additional grant of almost £8,000 in the latest round of government funding.

This will enable forum members to take the plan through the next stage of its development ready for presentation to the council towards the end of the year.

"What is really significant is this is an example of localism at work," said Mr Brooke. "The plan is being produced by Broadstone residents for Broadstone and not being imposed from above."