THE South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have organised two public events for people to find out more about planning within the AONB.

The South Devon AONB Planning Guidance document is now open for consultation until midnight on Tuesday, August 16.

On Thursday, August 11, there will be a free presentation by Adam Royle, the National Trust senior external affairs advisor. He recently worked on the report ‘AONBs and Development’, which found some problems with how safeguards to prevent inappropriate development are being implemented in some places.

The key finding of this report was that despite National Planning Policy stating that AONBs have the highest status of protection in the planning system, planning policies for AONBs are often not being correctly interpreted, applied and followed.

He will be at the Kingsbridge Community College Library on Thursday, August 11, between 3.30-5.30pm. To register your place email: [email protected] or call: 01803 861384.

This presentation is immediately before a AONB Planning Guidance Workshop, which is aimed particularly at parish councils, town councils and neighbourhood plan groups across the South Hams, but is also open to the public.

AONB Manager Roger English said: ‘We hope that people will take the opportunity to attend this workshop in order to discuss the subject of planning and the AONB.

‘It is a challenge to balance the social and economic needs of our communities whilst safeguarding local distinctiveness and conserving the AONB landscape, and we welcome everyone’s views.’

It will also be held in the KCC Library at 6.30-9pm. Anyone wishing to attend is asked to email: [email protected] or call the AONB team on: 01803 861384.

If you would like to view the South Devon AONB Planning Guidance documents, you can download them from the website: http://tinyurl.com/AONBConsultation

A spokesman for South Devon AONB said: ‘Having read the document in full, or the sections that are of most interest, participants are requested to complete and submit a consultation response to provide their feedback using our smartsurvey survey form.

‘All feedback will be collated and used to inform the final version of the Planning Guidance. A report on the consultation feedback will be available through the South Devon AONB website.’