Chesham Neighbourhood Plan...Have Your Say

In our last posting we discussed the Buckinghamshire County Council Planning Survey which we hope many of you were able to complete with the guidance thoughtfully put together by the BNG Chairman.  The results of this survey along with other inputs will go towards the creation of a Countywide Draft Local Plan.

Closer to home, Chesham Town Council have chosen to go down the route of the Chesham Neighbourhood Plan (CNP).  Once adopted, the CNP will work in parallel with any future Local Plan prepared by Buckinghamshire Council and provide a structure for deciding future planning applications in Chesham.   Ah yes, one might say, another layer of bureaucracy but if the end product is to give the residents of Chesham more say on what happens in and around Chesham  then it will have served its purpose.  

In the past, the BNG Team has had its share of frustration trying to work with our County Councillors but in Cllr Nick Southworth, Chair of the Town Council’s Planning Committee, who also happens to be a County Councillor we have found a genuine ally.  Nick is one of the key drivers of the CNP and BNG are delighted that Nick is out there "batting for us" both at a Town level and County level.   He's one of the good guys.  This is what Nick has to say:

“Chesham a great place to live and full of potential, but it is a town that has been historically poorly served in planning terms. The Chesham Neighbourhood Plan consultation opens the debate on our future directly to residents, with the aim of putting together a planning document that will give us real control over the next chapter of our town’s development.  I am delighted that we are able to start engaging with residents from the very start on this vision and I encourage all residents to find the time to feed back to us.”

As the CNP ball starts rolling you can have your say by completing a five minute survey on the Chesham Town Council website.  If you do not get involved you will not really have any right to complain about what then happens in Chesham so I would urge you all to play your part.  

Read about and complete Chesham Neighbourhood Plan Survey here

Many thanks
The BNG Team