UPPER Arley Parish Council is set to receive up to £5,000 towards the creation of a parish plan which will help identify issues to be tackled in the years ahead.

The move has been hailed as "very good news" by the council which will now make a formal application to the Countryside Agency for up to 75 per cent of the cost of the plan.

Clerk Ray Harrowing said it would provide a comprehensive survey of Arley, Shatterford and Pound Green and identify residents' wishes for the way they wanted the parish to develop.

Among the issues covered would be bus services, housing, tourism and parking provision.

Mr Harrowing said: "It will look at the future of villages. It's a big area and needs sensitive treatment because it's in the Green Belt."

There will be a preliminary meeting of the parish council this month and it is hoped the public will be involved in the New Year.

He added the plan would be one of the first in the country to be drawn up.