RESIDENTS in Dovercourt are being urged to have their say over how a heritage area is protected – and how buildings might be preserved in the future.

Tendring Council is developing a series of conservation area appraisals, reviewing places which already have a heritage designation.

The council has completed appraisals of the first five areas, and is now looking for the public’s views on them, as well as proposed criteria against which new non-designated or ‘locally listed’ buildings would be assessed against.

Jeff Bray, cabinet member for planning, encouraged people to take a look at the appraisals and to have their say.

“Our district has a number of beautiful places deserving of preservation, but it is important that we do this in the right way,” he said.

“That is what these Conservation Area Appraisals set out to do, and we would really welcome the public’s thoughts on them.”

The five new appraisals the council wants views on are for Clacton Seafront, Dovercourt, Thorpe-le-Soken, Thorpe Station and Maltings and St Osyth A six-week public consultation will run from Monday until August 15.

People can have their say by emailing planning.policy@tendringdc.gov.uk.

There will also be a public exhibition at the Dovercourt and Harwich Hub in High Street, Dovercourt, on July 12 from 3pm to 7pm.