Neighbourhood Plan, Policy Preparation

The exhibition at the Soper Hall on the 21st June, while low in attendance did re-inforce themes we’d been hearing all along. That was of merit. In addition we have met more people in the area who have particularly good knowledge on certain topics and that is most useful. If you are one of these good people and have yet to introduce yourselves to us please do.

Other work we are getting on with are some site assessments, we may well put out a Call for Land again to make sure we are collating as much information as we need.

Now we need to prepare for the statutory 6 week public consultation. As noted in earlier posts this will need some close attention to certain topics.

 

Geoff Duck

 

 

 

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Neighbourhood Plan, Exhibition, 21st June, 11-1600h, Soper Hall

The next exhibition of the Plan and its work will be 21st June. This may be one of the last before September.

The preparation of the Plan now involves going through the reports, evidence and intentions that have been prepared and understanding the range of planning policies that can potentially be produced. Some of the planning policies that will arise from the work that has been done are not contentious and can be readily produced. Some of the planning policies that might be sought may be difficult to draft successfully. It is important that the policies that are produced do make a difference to the area, goes without saying, but we must take great care over how they are drafted so that they will continue to be effective through their lifetime, which is intended to be for the next 2 decades. As with any planning policy they must be able to withstand any future challenge.

Once we have the policies drafted the other information that has to come together with the Plan will have been prepared. There are statutory consultees to check with, these are agencies such as the Environment Agency, other local authorities, utility companies and so on. There are other statutory assessments we need to carry out. This is a whole series of back office work, technical, crucial.

We will be setting up a website to hold the finished work and reference material. This hasn’t been done so far as we only want to build the collection of information knowing that it will pass muster and is relevant and of the right quality.

Plenty to do.

 

Geoff Duck

 

 

 

CR3 Forum AGM. 17th June, 1930h Soper Hall

The CR3 Forum will be holding its AGM at the Soper Hall. The formal business of the AGM itself will not take long. Ann Skippers, a planner by profession will be speaking. She works in various roles including as an Inspector, reporting on Neighbourhood Plans.

Please let us know that you would like to attend.

Geoff Duck

 

Caterham Street Party, 1st June

The next public occasion will be a stall at the Street Party on the 1st June.

We’ll probably be promoting a single point or maybe two and be on hand to promote the Plan to people who weren’t specifically looking to attend one of the exhibitions. This will continue publicise the Plan to the local people.

Otherwise we are continuing the work of getting the reports finished, policies prepared for the formal consultation.

Geoff

 

Caterham Exhibition, 26th April, High St, Community Centre.

As with the other occasions each of the themes we have been working on have presented their findings.

In common with the other presentations, we had a steady, but small number of visitors, all of whom stayed a while and looked through the information provided with some intent.

 

Geoff Duck

 

 

 

Chaldon 12th April, St Peter & Paul School, 1200h to 1700h

On the Saturday there was an exhibition of the work of the Neighbourhood Plan at St Peter & Paul School. People did come along and talk to the people working on the Plan. Please make your comments on any matter and those comments will be listened to and incorporated into the scheme.

We very much thank you for having attended on the 12th April.

Whyteleafe Exhibition of the Plan, March 5th St Luke’s 1400h to 1900h

There was an exhibition of the Plan in Whyteleafe. A Wednesday afternoon and evening. Just near the Whyteleafe Station so you could easily call in on your way home.

Call for Land – Sites Wanted

The Neighbourhood Plan needs to be able to assess sites for their suitability for one or other purpose that the site might be suitable for. There is already a list of sites in hand but we must ask for any sites that people have that we aren’t currently aware of. We have had a good number be identified by people recently but we must continue to ask.

Please email info@cr3forum.org.uk or phone 01883 577008.

We have written to developers, we will be in contact with other agencies who have land. Of course some government agencies with land simply advertise that on their websites; makes it easy enough for the people working on the Neighbourhood Plan to include those in the list of sites to be assessed.

This is an important issue as the Plan must be able to report on one of the most important assets in the area, its land and how it is used, for the future.

Set out here are just some of the uses for land that the Neighbourhood Plan has so for identified.

Business Development, New School, Doctors Surgery in Whyteleafe, Caterham Hill Library, Cinema, Cemetery, Allotments, Community Hub for Whyteleafe, Playground for Chaldon, Parking, Pocket Parks, Waste Collection, Anaerobic Digester, Solar Farm, Housing.

This picture is of one of the sessions where people working on the plan are being taught about Site Assessment.

 

 

 

Projects and Progress

Out of the work being done towards the Neighbourhood Plan has been the identification of a number of projects that are looking to be attractive and viable to serve the area.

The sites that the Neighbourhood Plan will be calling for will include sites for some of these. In addition the CR3 Forum welcomes any additional projects that can be usefully carried out. We are proposing to list some of them in the promotional material we are preparing, so you are referred to that when it is published, which should be early January.

Otherwise we are going through the reports that the different groups have produced and make sure they are consistent and properly prepared.

Geoff Duck

 

 

 

 

 

 

TDC Councillors R&Y Review, 3rd Dec, Soper Hall

Volvos, the Mercedes were in the other showroom

On Tuesday evening there is the public meeting to assess information over 67 Croydon Road, the site formerly occupied by Rose & Young.

The Neighbourhood Plan is making a representation, much as anything to make sure that the work by the ‘Plan is made available. Importantly from the point of view of fitting the development of the site into the context of the Valley as a whole.

Geoff