PEOPLE living in Raglan are being invited to help plan and shape the future of their village by producing an audit of their community as a detailed record of their area.

The scheme is being made possible with the help and advice from Adventa, as part of Momouthshire's Rural Development Plan.

Shirley Hughes, Adventa's Social Enterprise Development Officer said: "We want to help to realise the potential of rural communities by supporting them in their endeavours. One way we believe we can contribute is by helping rural villages like Raglan to develop their own Community Led Plan.

"It's a record of the village – its people, its assets and its aspirations, and it provides a detailed account of local social, economic and environmental needs.

" It can give the community a flying start, for example when it comes to things like applying for newly available funding, as a lot of the ground work will already be done."

Raglan Junior School Hall is the first venue for a series of open public meetings, which Shirley is planning for villages and rural communities across Monmouthshire.

The meeting, on Tuesday, November 15, starts at 7.30 pm and is open to anyone and everyone in Raglan and the surrounding area, including Pen-y-Clawdd and Llandenny.

Shirley added: "Developing this community plan starts and ends with the community.

"It's a way for everyone in the village who wants to be involved to create a shared vision for the long-term sustainability of the village, and how it should develop over the next five to 10 years."

The final document can be used to influence local area planning decisions, and by local organisations as support for funding applications and influence service providers.

Shirley has already consulted with Raglan Community Council who are all in favour of the scheme and see it as an opportunity for all villagers to get involved in preparing for the future of the village.

At the open meeting, the process of developing the Community Led Plan starts with volunteers being invited to form a steering group.

Over the coming months this group will hold further meetings and send out a questionnaires to everyone in the community aimed at both adults and children.

For more information about the open meeting or to find out more about developing a Community Led Plan for your own village, please contact: Shirley Hughes, 01633 748311 or 07793 259016 or email [email protected]">[email protected].