February 22, 2001 9:55: VILLAGERS are being asked to rally together to decide how developments should be carried out in their rural community.

The Government's Countryside Agency has commissioned a Village Design Statement from Bourne End and Wooburn Green.

Residents from both villages are being urged by the co-ordinators Alan Lamb, Neil Axtell, of Wooburn Moor and John Patrick, of Bourne End, to attend a public meeting on Tuesday to air their views.

Mr Lamb said: "It's the opportunity for the residents, unattached groups and others that are not normally part of the planning process to have some sort of say."

The statement's main aim is not to say whether development should take place, as that is decided by the Local Plan, but to give input into how the development should be dealt with.

"The Village Design Statement is the bottom rung of the planning ladder," explained co-ordinator Mr Lamb, of The Green, Wooburn Green. "But on the other hand it's better to be on a rung than to not be on the ladder at all."

The public meeting takes place at the Bourne End Community Centre at 7.30pm.

More information is available from Mr Lamb on (01628) 525446, Mr Axtell on (01628) 810279 or Mr Patrick on (01628) 525275.