Have your say on plans for Laverstock & Ford Parish Council
An online meeting about their Draft Neighbourhood plan is being held on Friday
Laverstock & Ford Parish Council are holding a Zoom 'question and answer' session for locals to give their thoughts on the latest Draft Neighbourhood Plan.
On Friday 11th June at 6pm residents, businesses and organisations will have the opportunity to ask any questions or raise concerns about it.
It will set out ideas from a recent questionnaire answered by those living in Bishopdown farm, old Sarum, Laverstock and Ford.
The main focuses are on development planning policies and proposals for improving the area, specifically addressing the landscape and green space preservation, community infrastructure and protection of the environment.
The Laverstock & Ford Parish Council's main aims are as follows:
- Preserve and protect the existing open spaces, landscape and heritage assets much valued by residents and visitors
- Conserve and enhance the River Bourne and its environs
- Protect and improve biodiversity in the Parish and respond to the climate crisis
- Encourage the farming community to continue to be a significant part of the Parish economy and an important contributor to and guardian of the landscape and environment Pre-Submission Consultation
- Ensure that the community has a say in the type, location, scale and design of future housing development in the parish, whether to meet local needs or a strategic allocation under the Local Plan
- Encourage business and industry to make best use of the land in the Parish set aside for this purpose to the benefit of the Parish
- Seek to ensure that any future development in the Parish is supported by the implementation of a complementary and structured approach to infrastructure
- Support the provision of community services and facilities which benefit the Parish, including health and wellbeing aspects
- Ensure that neighbourhood plan policies, whilst protecting the setting of our schools in the wider landscape, do not unduly restrict them from continuing to provide excellent education for the young people of our Parish and the surrounding area
- Support improvements to public transport and foot/cycle path links within and between the Parish and key destinations
- Encourage the implementation of schemes which reduce the impact of traffic within the Parish without compromising the other objectives.
Nick Baker Chair of the Parish Council said:
"We need feedback from the local community as the plan is about the way the community should be developed, where houses should be built, what houses should be built with, while thinking about the environment and facilities people need.
"It covers everything from every new house having an electric charging point for cars through to design and protecting the green spaces. It is all about hearing what people think, any ideas that may have been missed, getting as much feedback as possible."
In 2017 the Parish Council decided to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan to guide the development and use of land in the Parish to 2036.
Once adopted, Wiltshire Council, or planning inspectors, will have to take account of the Neighbourhood Plan when making decisions concerning planning applications or appeals in the neighbourhood area, so it's important everyone has a chance to contribute.
If you are unable to attend on Friday 11th June another event is planned on 2nd July, before the consultation closes.
Find a full copy of the Neighbourhood plan here.
For any questions or thoughts a feedback from can be found here.