A new plan is being drawn up to protect a seaside town's special character for the future - and residents, local businesses and local organisations are being invited to have an input into the scheme.

Tendring District Council (TDC) has commissioned the work on Walton's Conservation Area, in association with Frinton and Walton Town Council.

And now they want to hear from people interested in the proposals and from those who have a view on the way forward.

The management plan is being put together by specialist consultants, The Conservation Studio, and will go on show from 12 noon on Monday (June 9).

The exhibition is being staged at Walton Library and the consultation period will last for 4 weeks in total. All comments must be in by July 4.

The whole aim of the exercise is to come up with ways to enhance the town - finding ways to bring in necessary changes but without losing sight of Walton's unique qualities.

Among the ideas being put forward are improvements to the usability of the town and the spaces between buildings.

These would be dependent on cash being available to carry them out, as would projects for better shopfronts, signage, paving and tree planting.

Iris Johnson, Tendring District Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: "It is important to have a vision for Walton that fully respects the resort's historic character and allows for new ideas without losing sight of established values."

The town itself has a very distinctive character which comes from its planned layout in the early to mid 19th century.

Commercial and residential buildings are built to a high density along the seafront and the town stretches inland along High Street, with connecting roads winding up the hillside to the railway station from the parish church. Walton's pier is reputedly the second longest in the country and provides an important focal point for the town.

The Walton Conservation Area was first designated in 1982 to recognise the town's special character.

The Government recommends that conservation areas should be looked at on a regular basis, identifying the issues facing that area and then producing proposals to tackle those issues.

Tendring District Council came up with a character appraisal in 2005 and a public workshop was staged in February this year to get an idea of local feeling on the threats and opportunities facing the town.

The management plan has been designed to build on those pieces of work and is available at both the library and Town Council offices as well as the conservation information page.

Once all the comments and responses have been received, they will be used along with the draft plan to produce a final version to be adopted by both Tendring District Council and Frinton and Walton Town Council later this year.