COMMUNITY group #Weyforward and the borough council have joined forced to encourage as many people as possible to comment via social media about the town's draft masterplan.

The Weymouth town masterplan aims to help the centre meet its full potential as a thriving, vibrant and prosperous place, offering a wide choice of housing jobs, facilities and services.

It aims to develop up to 1,000 new homes and create in excess of 2,700 jobs as it focuses on the development of five key sites, amounting to 58 hectares of land.

#Weyforward has used the masterplan draft content to create a series of Facebook groups posted on their page so people can easily understand, comment and see what others are saying at facebook.com/weypeninsula

Baron Miles, head of careers at Budmouth College and #Weyforward local activist, said: "The council reaching more people through #Weyforward's Facebook page as part of the masterplan consultation is a great idea.

"It illustrates developing collaboration and transparency between the council and the community.

"We also hope that by using social media tools it will inspire more young people to get involved as our economy moves into the digital future."

The plan so far has been produced in partnership with the community following a series of public events and follow-up workshops during the past six months.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council masterplan project manager Sarah Cairns said: "We genuinely want as many people as possible to get involved and have their say about the proposed masterplan documents.

"We’re pleased to be working with #Weyforward and this collaboration should help boost our online presence and reach people who may not have been involved so far."

Highlighting five key sites, the final draft content has been based on consultation so far in the context of supporting work, such as economic viability and feasibility assessments.

People can still find the full masterplan documents and take part in the formal consultation until Tuesday, April 7 at dorsetforyou.com/brighterwey

Masterplan consultation results will be considered at a special meeting of the borough council’s management committee on Tuesday, April 28.