Wollaston Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement
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| OctoberWollaston | October Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement Wollaston Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. September 2015 Wollaston Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement. 2015 Page 0 Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 2 2. Designating the Neighbourhood Area ............................................................................................... 2 The Need for a Neighbourhood Plan .................................................................................................. 2 Defining the Neighbourhood Area ...................................................................................................... 3 3. Early Community Engagement ........................................................................................................... 3 Who was consulted and how were they consulted? .......................................................................... 3 What key issues were raised during the consultation? ...................................................................... 6 How were the issues considered and, where relevant, addressed in the Plan? ................................ 6 4. The Consultation Draft Plan (November 2014) ............................................................................ 10 Who was consulted and how were they consulted? ........................................................................ 10 What key issues were raised during the consultation? .................................................................... 12 How were the issues considered and, where relevant, addressed in the Plan? .............................. 12 5. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Appendix 1. Consultation Draft Plan - Schedule of representations and responses .................... 18 Wollaston Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement. September 2015. Page 1 1. Introduction 1.1 This Consultation Statement (the Statement) has been prepared by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group (the Steering Group) appointed by the Wollaston Parish Council to prepare the Wollaston Neighbourhood Plan. Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) requires the Parish Council to include a consultation statement when it submits the Plan to the Borough Council. The Statement is required to: contain details of the persons and bodies consulted about the Plan; explains how they were consulted; summarise the main issues and concerns raised by the persons consulted; and describe how these issues and concerns have been considered and, where relevant, addressed in the Plan. 1.2 The Steering Group has sought to involve the community during the plan-making process. Particular emphasis was placed on engaging a wide range of local people and interested parties prior to the formulation of proposals to ensure that the views and priorities of the community could inform the evolution of the Plan from the outset. In accordance with National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) (ID: 41-047-20140306) the Steering Group has sought to ensure that the wider community has: been kept fully informed of what is being proposed; been able to make their views known throughout the process; had opportunities to be actively involved in shaping the emerging neighbourhood plan; and been made aware of how their views have informed the draft neighbourhood plan. 1.3 The Statement should be read alongside the evidence base and other documents which have informed the preparation of the Plan. Evidence base documents can be accessed from the neighbourhood planning section of the Parish Council website at www.wollastonparishcouncil.gov.uk. Prior to the submission of the Plan to the Borough Council there are two formal or statutory stages of consultation as follows: Consultation undertaken by the Borough Council following receipt of an application for designation of a Neighbourhood Area by the Parish Council; and Consultation undertaken by the Parish Council following the preparation of a draft (Pre-Submission) Plan. This is also referred to as the Regulation 14 stage. However, prior to the Regulation 14 stage the Steering Group undertook considerable informal consultation which is also documented in this Statement. 2. Designating the Neighbourhood Area The Need for a Neighbourhood Plan 2.1 The Parish Council determined in October 2011 to prepare a neighbourhood plan. Essentially this decision was a response to pressure for development on the periphery of the village and concerns about the impact that this could have on the character and infrastructure of Wollaston. Neighbourhood planning was perceived by the Parish Council as an opportunity for the local community to influence the future location and type of development in Wollaston. Wollaston Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement. September 2015. Page 2 2.2 The Parish Council established a Steering Group to develop the Plan and engaged a planning consultant from an early stage in the process. The Steering Group currently consists of 5 Parish Councillors and 2 co-opted members of the community. Other members of the community and stakeholders have been invited to attend meetings when appropriate. The Steering Group reports to the Parish Council on a monthly basis. Defining the Neighbourhood Area 2.3 Along its southern boundary the village of Wollaston adjoins the Parish of Strixton. Correspondence was therefore undertaken in 2012 with the Chairman of Strixton Parish Meeting to determine the possible inclusion in the Neighbourhood Area of land located within Strixton but adjacent to Wollaston Parish boundary. The inclusion of this land would enable consideration to be given to all possible directions for growth around the village of Wollaston. The outcome of discussions and correspondence led to agreement by Strixton Parish that the Neighbourhood Area could be extended beyond the Wollaston Parish boundary to include the Wollaston and Strixton Playing Field and that part of the Hinwick Rd industrial estate within Strixton. 2.4 Wollaston Parish Council applied in October 2012 for the Neighbourhood Area to be designated1. The Borough Council undertook consultation as required by section 6 of the Regulations and issued a formal decision notice2 designating the Neighbourhood Area in January 2013. The designation was publicised by the Borough Council in accordance with section 7 of the Regulations. 3. Early Community Engagement Who was consulted and how were they consulted? 3.1 The purpose of the consultation was to engage with a broad range of people from the local community and other stakeholders at the start of the process in order to develop a clear understanding of the issues that the Plan should seek to address. The following list provides a brief summary of the engagement activities that the Steering Group undertook prior to the publication of the Consultation Draft Plan in November 2014. 3.2 Launch Event - April 2012. The event, which attracted approximately 70 people, was publicised in the Wollaston and Strixton News and Views (WASNAV) magazine and a leaflet was delivered to every household in the Neighbourhood Area. Posters were displayed at several locations including the Parish Council notice board, the library, the doctors’ surgeries, and the notice-board in South St. 3.3 At the event the purpose of a neighbourhood plan and the plan process was explained and examples of the types of issues that the Plan might address were discussed. Boards relating to a range of topic areas highlighted key questions and provided a brief summary of Government policy and key facts and figures about Wollaston. People were asked to use post-it notes to highlight what they like and dislike about Wollaston; and what does Wollaston not have that it might be realistic to achieve as part of the Plan. 1 http://www.wellingborough.gov.uk/downloads/file/5612/neighbourhood_area_application-wollston 2 http://www.wellingborough.gov.uk/downloads/file/5694/decision_notice_for_wollaston Wollaston Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement. September 2015. Page 3 3.4 Older People - March 2012. Meetings were held with members of the Bowls Club, Age UK, the Methodist Church Luncheon Club and the Salvation Army over 60’s Club to understand what they like and dislike about Wollaston. 3.5 Housing Needs Survey - September 2012. A housing needs survey designed by the Borough Council was delivered to every household in the Neighbourhood Area. Approximately 29% of households responded. 3.6 Business Event - October 2012. Letters were sent out to local businesses and 13 people attended. A presentation was made by the Steering Group to explain the purpose of the Plan; the plan preparation process and the planning policy background. Facts and figures about the local economy were presented and a list of questions facilitated a wider discussion. To enable further comment the list of questions was subsequently circulated to attendees and others who had expressed an interest in attending but had been unable to do so. 3.7 Young people - October/November 2012. Young people were asked via the Sports Association, the Scouts and the Secondary School to complete a questionnaire to help understand what they like and dislike about Wollaston and what changes they would like to see in the future. Most respondents were between the ages of 10 and