PROTECTING green spaces and creating local jobs should be the council’s priorities over the next two decades, according to a survey of residents’ views.

At the end of last year Epping Forest District Council asked members of the public what the district’s priorities should be over the next 20 years.

The choices will be taken in to consideration by councillors when formulating the district’s Core Planning Strategy, in which they determine what the priorities are in how the council’s land will be used.

Over a third of the public, 32.4 per cent, responded that protecting and enhancing green spaces should be the top priority, with encouraging local jobs and businesses a close second, with 25.4 per cent of those asked choosing this option.

Providing community facilities was the third most popular choice, with 17.2 per cent of the vote, while fewer thought that local housing and climate change should be priorities, with 11 per cent and 10.3 choosing these options respectively.

3.7 per cent chose a different priority.

When asked what the district’s planning priorities should be over the next 20 years most again chose the protection of green spaces, with, in order of preference, reducing traffic congestion, creating local job opportunities, getting the right balance of shops and restaurants, community facilities and public transport also being named as top priorities.

When asked where new housing and jobs in the district should go, most believed that they should go close to public transport links and around or within existing towns.