Thursday 20 February 2014

Amended Bedfordshire Gypsy plan goes to consultation

From the Advertiser

An amended version of a plan listing sites in the Advertiser area for future use by Gypsies has been put to consultation.

The Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan from Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) identifies where the council would prefer Gypsies to be accommodated up to 2031.

A consultation giving residents the chance to have their say on changes to the plan began on Monday and will last six weeks, until March 31.

The plan – which includes an updated ‘shortlist’ of deliverable Gypsy and Traveller sites – will then be passed to the Secretary of State later this year, along with all representations.

Cllr Nidal Young, executive member for strategic planning and economic development at CBC, said: “We listened to what residents said in our last round of consultation and have made changes to the plan as a result.

“What we want to do now is to make sure that everyone has had the chance to have their say.

“If you made a representation last time around and haven’t got anything new or different to say now, that will still count and go forward to the Secretary of State.

“But if you have something new you’d like to comment on, please do so before 31 March so we can compile everything and pass it on.”

Cllr Young continued: “We’ve also listened to what people said about the last consultation and have reviewed the questionnaire to make it much simpler and easy to fill out.

“I must stress that as we will be passing on all representations made to the Planning Inspector, residents need to ensure their comments are based on the level of ‘soundness’ and legal compliance of the plan.

“These are the criteria the Secretary of State will be assessing it under. If these terms don’t mean anything to you, don’t worry, as definitions are provided on our website and in the supporting documentation.”

Residents can have their say via the council website – www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/GypsyTravellerplan – where the draft plan and supporting documents are available to read, as well as a response form to complete.

A copy of the response form can also be picked up from council offices and libraries or by contacting the planning team. Call on 0300 300 8307 or email ldf@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

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