PETERSFIELD could be poised to make history if its neighbourhood plan for the town is accepted by residents in a vote this year.

But with a deadline looming the neighbourhood plan group has urged more people to "wake up and smell the coffee".

"More than 500 people who attended an exhibition last October gave an overwhelming thumbs up to the vision and housing policies," said Jamie Matthews, a spokesman for the neighbourhood plan group.

But he said it represented just a small fraction of the community, adding: "Although we've had lots of interaction and good representation from people across the community, there are 14,000 people living in Petersfield and those that haven't shown an interest in the plan need to wake up to the fact that there are going to be 700 new homes in Petersfield soon.

"If they don't think it will affect them in one way or another, then they should think again."

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.