Page last updated at 13:58 GMT, Friday, January 6 2012

Local people have their say on Draft Local Plan

Local people from throughout the borough have had their say on the borough’s draft local plan following a nine week consultation period that included a series of twelve exhibitions held at venues across the area.

The Council is currently recording and logging all the representations made on the draft local plan. It is estimated that this will total around 1500-2000 representations from hundreds of respondents.

Over 1300 people took the opportunity to find out more about the plans and speak to staff about any issues at a series of twelve exhibitions held throughout the borough issues and respondents could reply in a variety of ways including email, online, by post or completing forms at the exhibitions. 

The Local Plan sets out a strategic vision and planning policies for the Borough over the next 18 years until 2029.  The Council, like all local authorities across the country, is legally required to produce a plan for the Borough that looks at least 15 years ahead and it must identify sufficient land for development to meet the community’s needs over that period.

Council Leader Keith House said, ”It’s great to see so many local people commenting on the proposals in Draft Local Plan. The views of local people are important to us and I thank everyone who has provided us with their thoughts and views. We want to keep improving the plan to meet the needs of our Borough for the future”.`

Now the consultation period has closed the Council will carefully consider all the representations and comments that have been made. These will all be reported to Cabinet along with a revised version of the Local Plan in summer 2012.