Residents Urged To Have Their Say As Consultation Draws To A Close - Bedfordshire

From About My Area

Residents still have the chance to give their views on Central Bedfordshire Council's Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan.

The public have been having their say both online and through paper comment forms - and now respondents can also download a Word version of the comment form from www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/gypsytravellerplan, fill it in and email it to LDF@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Cllr Nigel Young, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities (Strategic Planning and Economic Development), said: "We've added a Word version of the form to make it as easy as possible for residents to give their views on the draft Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan, after some indicated that they found the interactive online form tricky to use. I'd also like to remind residents who are not computer literate that they can view a copy of the plan and pick up a paper version of the comment form from their local library or one of our customer service centres - or telephone 0300 300 4353 to request a paper form."

Residents are still able to have their say through the interactive online form, which can be accessed via www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/gypsytravellerplan or they can download and fill in a PDF version of the comment form. If residents do fill out a hard copy, they should send it to the freepost address which is given on the form.

Cllr Young added: "Whichever of these methods residents' choose, their response will be equally valid. All comments will be included verbatim in the report to the Planning Inspector - though we will also summarise these in another section of the document to enable the Planning Inspector to identify the dominant themes in the public feedback."
The consultation, which began on Monday, 20 May, ends on Monday, 1 July 2013.

The Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan sets out how the accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople will be met in the area up until 2031, as well as detailing the planning policies against which all planning applications for these sites will be assessed. The plan includes a ‘short-list' of new gypsy and traveller sites in Central Bedfordshire.

Our dedicated webpage (www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/gypsytravellerplan) provides instructions to residents on how to give feedback online, links to all supporting documentation and some Frequently Asked Questions, for respondents to reference.