THE response in Ledbury to a town plan questionnaire has been the best in the county with more than one third being returned completed.

This means that 2,800 Ledbury people have taken the trouble to fill in the questionnaires, which will help form the blueprint for the town in the future.

The statistics were met with delight at a meeting of the full town council last week.

Councillor Tony Bradford, in addressing Griff Holliday of the town plan steering group, said: “I am astonished by your success. I have watched people in all weathers knocking front doors to talk to residents.

“This response of 2,800 people – I have never known a response like it. This is almost half the population, where sometimes only 10 per cent vote. I didn’t see that coming and you all need to be congratulated.”

Mr Holliday said: “A response of 38 per cent – that is better than any other town in Herefordshire.”

In total, 7,000 questionnaires were distributed in Ledbury with a further 450 sent to homes in the outlying areas of Ledbury parish.

Now the challenging task of inputting all the data must begin.

A ‘pilot’ day for inputting was planned this week in the town council offices but this was chiefly to assess how long it is likely to take to complete the whole task.

The town plan, when compiled, will from part of a ‘triple blueprint’ for Ledbury's future over the next two decades. It will sit alongside the parish plan and Herefordshire County Council’s core strategy.

The next meeting of the Town Plan Steering Group will take place in the Ledbury Town Council offices, Church Lane, on Tuesday, January 28, at 7pm.