The residents of Horsham have highlighted the importance of parks and open spaces to the historic market town in a recent survey conducted by Horsham Blueprint Neighbourhood Forum.

Over 300 people responded to the recent interim report delivered to every property in the by the Forum, the designated organisation for Neighbourhood Planning for the Horsham Town Business Neighbourhood Area.

A Neighbourhood Plan will now be developed from the responses, which will take a while to analyse and assimilate, but a number of highlights have already been made public, including 98% of people supporting the preservation of existing open spaces and parks.

The survey also found that 67% of respondents feel it is important that they have a say in decisions which affect Horsham, and that 45% believe that more should be done to promote the town as a tourist destination, although 28% disagreed with this particular opinion.

Andrew Cooke, vice chair of the Horsham Blueprint Neighbourhood Forum, said: “The analysis is ongoing, but what we’ve reviewed so far reinforces the comments and observations made to the Forum at the wide range of events and venues across the town over the last couple of years.

“Whilst the Plan won’t be able to address everything that has been raised, it will seek to maintain and even enhance what people love about the town, whilst mitigating or even eliminating those issues which cause concern.”