Statement of Community Involvement: Statement of Consultation September 2010 Further copies of this document and the Statement of Community Involvement are available from: • The Policy and Planning Team; • www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/statementofcommunityinvolve ment • A hard copy is available for inspection at the National Park Head Office, Eastburn, South Park, Hexham and at the following libraries during normal opening hours, Bellingham, Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Kielder and Wooler. Alternative formats of this report are available, such as large print or audio or translated – please contact the Policy and Planning Team who will be happy to discuss your needs. Policy and Planning Northumberland National Park Authority Eastburn South Park Hexham Northumberland NE46 1BS Tel: 01434 611552/ 577 Email: [email protected] 2 Introduction This statement sets out the consultation undertaken during the preparation of the Northumberland National Park Authority Statement of Community Involvement. The Statement of Community Involvement sets out how the Authority will engage local communities and other consultees in the preparation of documents within the Local Development Framework, other Authority policy documents affecting the National Park and in making development management decisions within Northumberland National Park. Early Engagement Between 26th October and 7th of December 2009 the Authority consulted on initial issues for the review of the Statement of Community Involvement. A leaflet (see appendix 1) was prepared seeking views on how the Authority should continue to engage stakeholders. The leaflet was sent to all residents of the National Park, statutory consultees (appendix 2) and other consultees (appendix 3). A summary of the representations received is set out in appendix 4. These comments informed the preparation of the draft Statement of Community Involvement. Engagement on the Draft Statement of Community Involvement A draft Statement of Community Involvement was published for comment between 10th May and 21st June 2010 (see appendix 2 and 3 for groups contacted). A number of methods were used to inform residents, organisations, groups and individuals of the draft Statement of Community Involvement: • The 22 parish councils within and adjoining the National Park (appendix 2) were sent a hard copy of the document and a LDF Newsletter. Parish Councils were asked if a member of the Policy and Planning Team could attend their Parish Council meeting. Officers subsequently attended 9 meetings; • 63 other statutory consultees were sent a hard copy of the draft document (appendix 2); • A LDF Newsletter (appendix 5) was sent to all 904 residential households and 69 other organisations, groups and individuals (appendix 3) informing them of the location of the document which was made available at the Northumberland National Park Authority headquarters, on the Authority’s website and at the following libraries; Bellingham, Haltwhistle, Haydon Bridge, Hexham, Kielder and Wooler; and • A statutory notice was also placed in a regional newspaper (appendix 6). A summary of the representations received are included at appendix 7. These comments were considered, and where appropriate reflected in the revised Statement of Community Involvement. 3 4 Appendix 1 Copy of early engagement leaflet 6 Appendix 2 Statutory consultees - who received a copy of the leaflet in October 2009 and the draft Statement of Community Involvement in May 2010. Parish Councils within or crossing Northumberland National Park Alnham Parish Council Humshaugh Parish Council Alwinton Parish Council Ingram Parish Council Bardon Mill Parish Council Kirknewton Parish Council Bellingham Parish Council Melkridge Parish Council Netherton & Biddlestone Corsenside Parish Council Otterburn Parish Council Elsdon Parish Council Tarset & Greystead Parish Falstone Parish Council Council Greenhead Parish Council Thirlwall Parish Council Harbottle Parish Council Warden Parish Council Haydon Parish Council Whitton & Tosson Parish Henshaw Parish Council Council Hepple Parish Council Wooler Parish Council Other Statutory Consultees 4NW Ministry of Defence Airport Operators Mobile Operators Association Alnwick Town Council Mono Consultants Limited Association of North East Councils National Grid BT Group plc Natural England Carlisle City Council Network Rail CE Electric UK North West Regional Development Agency Centrica plc Northumberland Primary Care Trust Coal Authority Northumbrian Water Cumbria County Council One North East Department for Constitutional Affairs Police Authority Department for Culture Media & Sport Powergen UK PLC Department for Work and Pensions Public Transport Providers Department of Health Secretary of State for Transport English Heritage (NE) Scottish Borders Council Environment Agency Scottish Executive Government Office For the North East Social Services Haltwhistle Town Council Sport England NE Highways Authority The Coal Authority Highways Agency The Home Office Hollinghill with Rothley Parish Council Utilities Companies Appendix 3 Other Consultee Groups Contacted who received a copy of the leaflet in October 2009 and LDF Newsletter in May 2010. All Residents of Northumberland National Park Association of National Park Authorities Bellingham and District Trade and Tourism Network Belsay Parish Council British Horse Society Budget Windows Building and Design Consultant Capheaton Parish Council Caravan Club Carter Jonas Chollerton Parish Council Council for National Parks Country Land and Business Association Cumbria County Council DEFRA Department of Work and Pensions Department of Constitutional Affairs Department for Culture Media and Sport Dickinson Dees Law Firm Forestry Commission General Aviation Awareness Council Glendale Gateway Trust Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd Hadrian’s Northumberland Hadrian’s Villages Haltwhistle Tourism Association Haltwhistle Community Partnership Hedley on the Hill Parish Counci; Hexham Business Forum Hexham Town Council Hexham Partnership Historic Scotland Horsley Parish Council Lake District National Park Authority MWH Mid Tyne Business Forum Mid Tyne Community Partnership Mono Consultants Ltd National Farmers Union National Trust North Tyne and Redesdale Community Partnership Northern Rail Ltd Northumberland County Council Northumberland and Newcastle Society 8 Northumberland National Park Environmental Association Northumberland National Park and County Joint Local Access Forum Northumberland Tourism Ltd Northumberland Wildlife Trust Northumberland Rural Housing Group Northumberland Estates Northumberland Playing Fields Association Northumberland Wildlife Trust Northumbrian Water ODPM Quarry Products Association Rothbury and Coquetdale Tourism Association Rothbury Business Club RSPB Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Natural Heritage Spence & Dower Springhouse Caravan Park Stagecoach North West The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England The Home Office The Homes and Communities Agency Tynedale Roadstone WA Fairhurst & Partners Ward Hadaway Solicitors Wild Redesdale Woodland Trust 9 Appendix 4 Summary of early engagement representations Responses from residents 22 return slips were received from residents. The responses covered a broad geographical area of the Park although there were a relatively large number from Tarset (7). The questions were: Please tell us how you would prefer to be contacted..... With regard to contact methods e-mail was the most popular form with respondents, closely followed by letter and regular newsletter. Results are shown in the table below: CONTACT METHOD NO OF VOTES Telephone 4 Letter 10 e-mail 15 Evening meetings 9 Day time meetings 4 Regular newsletter 10 Information on NNPA website 4 National Park staff attending Parish 5 council meetings Action Area meetings 4 Local press 5 Key documents being made available at 1 libraries, pubs, village halls. NB People voted for more than one method Please tell us what you are particularly interested in....... Planning was the most popular subject area closely followed by wildlife, the historic environment and rights of way. Results are shown in the table below: SUBJECT NO OF VOTES Planning 13 Tourism 9 Wildlife 12 Farming 8 Local communities 7 Sustainable development 7 Climate change 3 Historic environment 10 Economy 2 Skills and training 4 Rights of way 10 All areas 10 NB People voted for more than one subject 10 Responses from Statutory consultees Northumberland County Council (Forward Planning) • Current document is clear and concise • Could include greater consideration of how to make sure the needs of under/represented/seldom heard groups are reflected in the planning process. • Consider the important demographic of the county’s ageing population and the need to provide appropriate engagement mechanisms • Consider alignment with NCC Statement of Community Involvement (available on web week beginning 14th Dec) Natural England • Recommends refer to stakeholder list in Environmental Quality in Spatial planning document • Consider including any local working groups/fora that may already be established • All consultations with NE should be considered in accordance with the following: Government Circular ODPM 06/2005 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, and Government Circular ODPM 08/2005, and PPS9 Biodiversity and Geological conservation Northumbria Police - no comments Scottish Borders Council - no comments 11 12 Appendix 5 Copy of LDF Newsletter 14 Appendix 6 Copy of statutory notice