Norton residents urged to help shape future

November 09 2020
Norton residents urged to help shape future

Norton residents are being urged to have their say on wide ranging proposals that could influence planning in the parish for the next 10 years.

The official consultation process for the Norton-juxta-Kempsey Neighbourhood Plan is under way and parishioners have until Monday, November 30 to submit their views on it.

Over the past two years the Neighbour-hood Plan group has worked to turn community concerns and aspirations into planning policies that can be used to inform future development in the parish.

Once the plan progresses through all the required stages it will be used by the Wychavon District Council and Planning Inspectors to determine all planning applications in the parish until at least 2030 alongside the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group has completed its draft plan.

One of the group’s members, Martin Pollard, said: “On a personal level I often hear people say ‘Getting involved with planning is a waste of time – they do what they want anyway’.

“Whilst it’s true that any neighbour-hood plan must conform with SWDP [South Worcestershire Development Plan] and national guidelines it’s still an opportunity to have our say.

“A small voice is better than no voice. Once adopted planning applications must – and it's legally binding – consider the neighbourhood plan as part of the process.

“So whilst we may not be able to stop development we can certainly influence what and where and mitigate the effects on the community.

“The voice must represent the people’s view, not the parish council, and that’s why it’s important that people respond.

“It’s important, however, that they realise the limitations and that we can’t stop the SWDP happening.”

As part of the public consultation process the details are being presented to the residents of Norton-Juxta-Kempsey parish for their comment and approval.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions preventing people attending public meetings in person, a 28-page summary document based on the 10 policies, with a pull-out questionnaire, has been produced and was delivered to all households before the commencement of the consultation period, which runs for six weeks, until 5pm on Monday, November 30.

Additional questionnaires are available on request and residents can also ask to borrow a copy of the complete Neighbourhood Plan Document.

When completed the questionnaire can be returned via named post boxes, scanned and emailed to Norton-juxta-Kempsey Parish Council or completed online.