The combination of the new Localism Act and the all-too-loosely worded National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) spell out new opportunities and threats about which we will have to be super-alert in the coming year. In particular we need to construct a Neighbourhood Plan (see article in this issue) as called for in the Localism Act to protect ourselves from unwanted intrusion into our happy parish. The original version was bitterly contested by many organisations, including the National Trust. The revised version which was released on March 27th this year alleviates some of the problems but the threat remains that local authorities have to make sure they have valid local plans in place within the next 12 months. I take it that this includes the new Neighbourhood Plans discussed in this issue.
But, in addition to this formality, if enough of us care sufficiently we have a better chance of making our voices heard. We need to convince our neighbours and friends to join your Society so that we may speak with that much more authority on your behalf. A recruitment drive is taking place to establish this firmer foundation. It is a sad foretaste of what might be ahead for us now that the Council has approved the Bishop Centre proposal in spite of the recommendation by the planning staff that it be dismissed. There are many developers who are taking advantage of the interregnum between the government’s clarification of the NPPF requirements and the take-up by local parish councils of neighbourhood plans, and one suspects that the Bishop Centre decision could be such a case. We need to get our own Plan in place as soon as possible to enable us to better influence the shape of the looming Mill Lane development, for instance.
This is Diamond Jubilee year and it saddens me to see how relatively little interest appears to be shown locally.
Fred Russell
