DETAILS are not currently available on the number of responses the council received on a major consultation for the future of the conurbation.

BCP Council’s Local Plan issues and options consultation closed three weeks ago.

The responses from residents, community groups, developers and businesses are expected to help formulate the draft of the first ever BCP Local Plan.

The Local Plan is a key policy document, which will shape and direct future development in the area, including strategic sites where large housing schemes will be brought forward by firms.

Council leaders stressed that the issues and options consultation, which ran from early January through to March 25, was not the draft Local Plan.

The process was criticised by residents and opposition councillors over its complexity and online format.

Midway through the consultation period, BCP Council chiefs confirmed several in-person drop-in events and extended the deadline for responses.

The Daily Echo asked the council how many responses had been received.

In a response on April 12, a council spokesperson said that officers were not in a position to be able to share anything at this stage as work was ongoing to collate all the responses, which included emails, paper surveys and hand-written replies.