Jan/Feb - Piddle Valley Community Website

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Neighbourhood Plan Working Group Report
In February 2012 it was decided to set up a working group to determine
whether the Piddle Valley would benefit from a Neighbourhood Plan. This
culminated in a public presentation at the school. Following this the
community were invited to complete a short questionnaire (which was also
available as a pullout section in the News & Views) to decide whether they felt
Piddle Valley should develop a Neighbourhood Plan. 113 questionnaires were
returned, 81 in favour, 31 against, with one abstention. This represented
11.3% of the electoral roll. There were also 37 offers of help.
Following the vote the Working Group presented a report to the Parish
Council at their meeting on 4 th December. There was some concern about the
small number of votes and it was obvious from the comments received that
the benefits and advantages of Neighbourhood planning had not been fully
understood. To clarify a few points:
• Neighbourhood Plans can encourage structured development within a
settlement which at present is not allowed under the West Dorset Local Plan;
it can also seek to limit inappropriate development, protect green spaces and
local community assets.
• A Neighbourhood Plan has to represent the views of the community and to
be adopted it has to have a majority at an election conducted by the local
authority.
• Planning applications will still have to be submitted to the District Council
who will have an obligation to take the Neighbourhood Plan into account in
their considerations.
The Working Group has realised that preparing a Neighbourhood Plan is a
lengthy and difficult task and there have been differing views among the
group. It’s up to the community to decide what subjects to include – it can be
as simple or complex as you wish.
The following are a few focus points which could be included:
• Transport and Communications
• Landscape and the Environment
• Housing and Sustainable Development
• Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation
• Community, Business, Employment and Tourism
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There will be another open meeting at the Piddle Valley First School at
7.30pm on Thursday 24 th January 2013 to discuss the next stage and the
subjects to include in the Plan. The Parish Council hope that as many people
as possible will attend and support their Neighbourhood Plan. In order for the
project to go ahead and succeed we need local support – please try and come
along to the meeting with your thoughts and ideas. The full Working Group
Report to the Parish Council can be found on the www.piddlevalley.info
Website and the village notice boards with the Minutes of the Parish Council
meeting on 4 th December.
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