AFTER nearly two years of work, residents in the parish of Buckland Monachorum are now able to view and comment on a draft document which sets out the framework for guiding future development in the parish.
It sets out proposals and recommends the policies needed to implement them in four areas — residential development, economic development, services and the environment. It covers issues such as where new housing should be built, what type of housing is most appropriate to meet the needs of the parish in future years and how other, non residential development, should be managed.
Other policies are aimed at maintaining the essential character of the villages and protecting the parish’s special environment.
During the consultation period, the plan is available to both parishioners, local authorities, government agencies and local organisations to comment on.
Once the consultation ends, comments will be acknowledged and necessary changes will be made accordingly, before the plan is formally submitted. It will be examined by an independent examiner and a referendum will be arranged to allow all those on the electoral register to vote on whether to accept it or not.
Provided the plan gets the approval of residents at the referendum stage, it will be used by the parish council when considering planning applications and other matters affecting the parish.
Parish councillor Ric Cheadle, neighbourhood plan co-ordinator, said: ‘The neighbourhood plan is important because once it is approved it will, for the first time, give the parish council a document which residents of the parish will have voted to adopt.
‘It aims to set out what local people feel is important and it will guide the way the parish council responds to planning issues, including those for new housing, over the next two decades. We really do hope that people will read the plan and let us have their views.’
The neighbourhood plan can be viewed online at www.buckland monachorumplan.co.uk or if you are unable to access the internet and would like to see a copy of the plan, contact the parish council clerk on 01822 615893.
Alternatively, four ‘roadshows’ have been planned for people to view the plan and ask questions of the neighbourhood plan committee. These are being held on March 4, from 10am to noon at St Paul’s Church Hall, Yelverton and from 2pm to 4pm at Clearbrook Village Hall and on March 11 from 10am to noon at Milton Combe Village Hall and 2pm to 4pm at Buckland Monachorum Village Hall.
You can comment on the plan online and you can leave a comment online via the comment page on the website or by writing to the clerk at Gull’s Cry, 1 Courtney Road, Tavistock, PL19 0EE. The consultation is due to end on March 31 and all comments received will be acknowledged and published, together with any proposed changes to the plan in response to the comments.
The referendum will be organised by West Devon Borough Council once the plan has completed its examination stage, which is hoped to be sometime in the summer.