Lavenham Neighbourhood Plan, the last lap.

Lavenham, a village worth a vote.

Many communities set out to create a Neighbourhood Plan, but very few reach the final hurdle.

There are many reasons for this, but the most important is that it takes a huge amount of work from all concerned.  This is because, unlike many formal collective expressions of community opinion in the world of planning,  when a Neighbourhood Plan is actually adopted it becomes an official legal reference document.  Therefore it must be taken into account by the local planning authority, and also by any planning inspector in the case of an appeal.

The process of producing a plan is so cumbersome and time consuming that some have expressed the opinion that neither the Government nor the planning authority really want communities to succeed.  Whatever the truth in this, and I believe that there is some, producing a Neighbourhood Plan is not a task for those without commitment and energy.

Residents of Lavenham and the Parish Council are therefore to be congratulated on reaching the final phase of the process which commenced some 4 years ago.  They have produced a Plan which has attracted high praise from the independent examiner who had to approve it.  He said that it was 'an extremely well written neighbourhood development plan' and that it would 'provide a strong practical framework against which decisions on development can be made'.

 On Thursday 8th September registered voters in the village will have the opportunity to go to the Village Hall to vote Yes or No to the following question:

'Do you want Babergh District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Lavenham to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?'

If more that 50% of registered voters vote YES then Babergh District Council must bring the plan into force.  It is vital therefore that Lavenham Residents understand the plan and, if they approve of it give their assent.

The organisers of the scheme have, I know, done their best to consult deeply and widely on the issues contained in the plan.  I hope that their assiduous work will be rewarded by an adequate turn out of voters and a YES vote on 8th September.

Leaflets giving details of the referendum are being distributed around the village.  If you do not receive one, a link to the plan, and also information about a series of open events in the village to present the plan, can be found HERE.