Stratford’s Neighbourhood Plan is off and running

Tue 15th November

Tuesday 15th November 2011 - Mayor of Stratford Councillor Bill Dowling welcomed more than 50 guests to the Town Hall yesterday for the launch of the Town’s Neighbourhood Plan.

It was an auspicious start to a process which will take until 2013 to complete and Cllr Dowling asked people of the town to make the most of every opportunity to contribute -

“The Neighbourhood Plan will be the first time that everyone has a say in how the town develops and people will genuinely have the power to get the future they want through binding planning legislation.

“We need everyone to take part, or we won’t get the town we want.

“We’re asking everyone to tell the team what they like about Stratford-upon-Avon and what they would wish to see changed. 

“It’s just a matter of taking a few minutes to complete one of the postcards which will be widely available, or by going online to the website www.ourstratford.org.uk.” 

It was then the turn of Steering Group Chairman Mr Mark Haselden to address the launch guests and the media –

“As the Mayor says, this is a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future - your input will make a real difference

“Stratford District Council is working hard on a strategic plan for the whole district and your Neighbourhood plan for the town will sit alongside this core strategy.

“The Neighbourhood plan will be a material and fundamental consideration for council planners, and it will even take precedence over the District Council’s core strategy on certain local matters.”

With speeches over, it was then time to switch on the Neighbourhood Plan web site (which you are now looking at!) and for guests to take away the postcards which are the start of the consultation with Stratford people.

The postcards are being distributed across the Town, and can be returned to collection points (news of these coming very soon on this web site), or in the post. The easiest way to be involved though is to complete this survey on-line by clicking the button on the right hand side of this page.

Not everyone has easy access to the web so if you can pass a postcard on to friends or neighbours who don’t have internet access, please do so. Or if you have mobile internet connection why not take your lap-top round to them and show them how to do the survey on-line?

Remember - It’s Your Town, your plan….and it’s time to write the future ï»¿