IMPORTANT URGENT
The localism bill comes into force in May; local communities will be able to influence how their villages are developed over the next 20 years through Neighbourhood Plans:
What do we value and what needs protecting both in the community and in the environment?
What changes and improvements do we want to see to local infrastructure and facilities?
How much and what sort of building development do we want?
Some of these issues were addressed while developing the Village Plan in 2010. The Neighbourhood Plan, however, will have statutory authority provided that:
It complies with national and district policies; and
It receives support in a village referendum.
The Parish Council has set up a Neighbourhood Plan committee consisting of co-opted members of the community and Parish Councillors. The Community will be consulted throughout the process which will lead up to a referendum in 2013.
As a start, a survey will be circulated with the Village Voice which will provide us with information about the nature of our village, and what the community wants. To give us a proper picture we need every household to complete the survey. This can be done either:
Electronically by clicking on this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ardingly or on paper, by filling in the survey enclosed with the Village Voice and returning in the freepost envelope or to one of the boxes in Fellows Bakery, the Post Office or St Peter’s Primary School. Note: although the freepost envelopes are being sent to AirS, the Neighbourhood Plan team is collating and analysing the results.
We have a very tight timetable to produce a draft Plan by the summer.
Please therefore return the survey by 30th March.
We thank you for all your help
GEORGE RUSE
CHAIRMAN, ARDINGLY PARISH COUNCIL
