Porthleven has been given almost £10,000 to create a plan for its future.

The Porthleven Neighbourhood Plan (PNP) Group received the best possible start to 2015 with the news that the Big Lottery Fund had awarded them with money to make their ideas a reality.

The money will be used to create a Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out what residents want to see happen in the port over the coming years, from the amount of new housing to the facilities that will be needed as a result.

It also gives the port a greater say when it comes to planning applications being decided, with Cornwall Council referring to the document before a decision is made.

Alan Jorgensen, chairman of PNP, said: “Porthleven is important to us – the residents and businesses – as well as being a leisure and tourism destination.

“Neighbourhood planning is about land-use and it is critical that we have real influence on what happens here, to enjoy and maximise our assets and ensure that we have the businesses, homes and facilities that make for a thriving and vibrant community. The BLF award will help ensure we can achieve this.”

A major part of the award will be used on speaking with the community, so that the group gets as many views as possible over what should be included in the plan.

This will be done through a variety of ways, including a website, social media and a digital questionnaire, as well as traditional paper questionnaires, postal drops and through members of PNP canvassing and talking to the residents of Porthleven.

Dr Rob John, chairman of Porthleven Community Group and a member of PNP’s policy team, said: “If a job is worth doing it’s worth doing well. This grant will enable us to make our task a much more professional affair for the good of the whole community.”

Anyone interested in the future of Porthleven and who would like to be involved in PNP, or find out more, can email porthlevennp@gmail.com or attend its next meeting on February 9, at 6.30pm in Porthleven Community Church (formerly the Apostolic Church) in Thomas Street, Porthleven.