Freshford and Limpley Stoke Parish Councils have decided to develop a Neighbourhood Plan which will provide a legal basis for residents to determine the future for our community - where and how we want to develop, and where we don't. The process includes the development within our communities of the Draft Plan, which is then submitted first to B&NES and Wiltshire Councils and then to an Independent Inspector. After any amendments which may be required, the Plan is submitted to a referendum across the two villages. If it is approved by a majority of residents, the Neighbourhood Plan gains legal force and must be reflected in any future planning decisions that affect our community.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us to take control over development in our two villages and we urge all residents to participate in the discussions. If you don't make your voice heard, how will we know what you want to happen? Working Groups have been set up to consider various aspect of the draft Neighbourhood Plan. They are detailed on this web site. Please contact the Neighbourhood Plan Co-ordinator, Ingrid Maher-Roberts, at ingrid.freshfordpc@gmail.com with any more general comments or queries.What is a
Neighbourhood Plan?
A
Neighbourhood Plan (NP) is a new way of helping local communities to influence
the planning of the area in which they live and work. Introduced by the
Localism Act 2011 it provides a legal framework through which a community can
be directly involved in shaping its own future. Proposals to have a
Neighbourhood Plan are first proposed by the community and at a later stage are
voted on in a Referendum by adult residents of the NP area.
What can a
Neighbourhood Plan contain?
A Neighbourhood
Plan sets out a vision, aims, policies and proposals for the future development of a neighbourhood. It is about the use, development, and protection of land and
can deal with a range of social, economic and environmental issues.
Here are some examples:
- The
development of housing and its design including affordable housing and
housing for the elderly.
- The
provision for local businesses to be set up and/or to expand their
premises
- Improving
road safety for all users and improving local transport services
- Developing
health facilities, and community
facilities such as the village halls
- The
protection and creation of open spaces, sports pitches and playgrounds.
- The promotion of renewable energy
projects
If adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan is
part of the statutory development plan for the area. This means that the local authority and planning inspectors
will have to take the Plan into account when making planning decisions. It is therefore much more powerful than
a Parish Plan because it has legal force.
How is the ‘neighbourhood’
defined?
For
the purposes of the Plan the ‘neighbourhood’ has been defined as the two
parishes of Freshford and Limpley Stoke. This
area spans the county boundary. Both
local authorities – Bath & North East Somerset and Wiltshire Councils - feel
that this offers an interesting and unique opportunity to pilot joint-working
between authorities and communities and have been fully supportive of the
process. Soon public notice will be given of this proposal and residents will
have the right to make representations on it.
Why did
Freshford and Limpley Stoke decide to work together?
Because
the two parishes are in effect one community divided by a county border and it
makes sense to work together for the sake of all residents. Over
the last few years both Parish Councils have successfully developed Parish
Plans and have worked to give effect to the wishes of residents as expressed in
the Parish Plans. The two Councils also continue to work together to improve
road safety both on local roads and on the A.36 trunk road and to find suitable
land for affordable housing. Alongside many others in the community the
Councils have given support to help bring forward development proposals and
community-led projects including the Galleries Shop and Café, the establishment
of the Freshford and Limpley Stoke Community Association FLiSCA and the
Pre-School.
How was the
decision taken to consider developing a Neighbourhood Plan?
It
was during early discussions in October 2011 about the redevelopment of the
Freshford Memorial Hall that it was suggested that the PCs should
explore with the Prince’s Foundation the opportunities arising under the
Localism Act for communities to have a greater say in their own future. This
led to the Community Workshop held on 31st January 2012, attended by some 150
residents, which was summarized in the ESHA report. The high attendance and the ideas generated from residents
clearly showed the potential support for a Neighbourhood Plan. In November
2011, B&NES and Wiltshire Councils had applied on behalf of the two
Parish Councils for a Front Runner Grant from the Department for Communities
and Local Government to progress the Neighbourhood Plan. The two Parish Councils
received confirmation of the Grant in March 2012.
Who is running
the development of the Neighbourhood Plan?
The
legal responsibility for the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan rests with
the two parish councils. There
is a Management Council, which comprises three Limpley Stoke Parish Councillors
– Simon Coombe, Peter Wyatt and Margaret Field – and three Freshford Parish
Councillors – Nick Stevens, Roger Paine and Andrew Orme. The Management Council is supported by
a Clerk and Co-ordinator Ingrid Maher Roberts. There are also quarterly meetings of a Steering Group which
comprises the Management Committee plus senior planning Officers of B&NES
and Wiltshire Councils.
Who develops
the ideas and proposals that go into the Plan?
The
process started with the Community Workshop held on 31st January
2012 which generated ideas from around 150 residents of the two Parishes. These ideas were summarised in the ESHA
Report – see Key Documents on the website. The thinking is being taken forward by four Working Groups
of residents which are meeting frequently over the summer. A public meeting was held on 26th
June 2012 to encourage people to put themselves forward as members of one or
other of the Working Groups.
Details of the Working Groups, their Chairmen and members and summaries of
their discussions are shown on this website.
Does the ESHA Report
reflect the views of the Parish Councils?
No. ESHA were brought in by the Prince's Foundation to facilitate
discussion and get the process going. The fact that 150 residents
participated in the workshop demonstrates the value of this exercise. ESHA
then listed the points made during the workshop, as an aide memoire for any
future discussion. It was not ESHA's job to evaluate or filter the ideas
and it is clear that, of the thoughts they recorded, many are not
practicable while others do not reflect the interests and aspirations of
residents. The four Working Groups are now taking forward the discussion
to arrive at balanced, practical proposals that would be widely supported
within the community.
If I’m not on a
Working Group, can I still have a say?
We
would be delighted if you would.
If you have comments or ideas about a particular topic, simply contact
the Chairman of the appropriate Working Group by email or contact any member of
the Group in person. They would be
pleased to have your contribution.
How can I keep
in the picture as the development of the Plan progresses?
As
far as possible we will be updating the information shown on this site so keep
checking back on a regular basis.
If you haven’t yet signed up for the Community Email Database, please do
so as this is another method we will use to keep residents posted. Above all, if you have particular questions,
please ask. Chairmen of the
Working Groups will be pleased to respond to queries; there will be regular
Neighbourhood Plan clinics in Limpley Stoke and Freshford Village Halls and we
plan a mobile display which will visit locations throughout the villages.
What are the
steps that have to be taken before the Plan can have effect?
Once
the Plan has been prepared by the community then
- First it
must be circulated for public consultation to such bodies as the
Environment Agency and English Heritage
- Then it is
submitted to the local authorities for a final check
- An
independent examiner will scrutinise it to see that the Plan is in general
conformity with the Local Plans of the two Authorities –B&NES and
Wiltshire Councils.
- If all is
well the community Referendum takes place and if supported (and see below)
- The
Neighbourhood Plan is adopted by the two Authorities
This
process is likely to take until the Spring of 2015.
What is it
costing residents of Freshford and Limpley Stoke?
Nothing. The Community Workshop run by ESHA was
supported by The Prince’s Trust and the ongoing expenses of the project are
being met out of the Front Runners Grant from the Department for Communities and
Local Government.