Public invited to have say on Lincolnshire's minerals and waste future
Residents across Lincolnshire are being invited to help shape the county's future as a major consultation opens on plans that could influence minerals and waste development for years to come.
Lincolnshire County Council is launching the final public consultation on its draft Minerals and Waste Local Plan, a key document that will guide how the county manages future demand for minerals and waste facilities through to 2042.
The consultation opens on June 15 and gives residents, businesses, community groups and stakeholders the opportunity to review the proposed plan before it is submitted for independent examination.
The Minerals and Waste Local Plan will eventually replace the county's existing planning policies covering minerals extraction and waste management.
It sets out how Lincolnshire will maintain a steady supply of essential materials such as sand, gravel and limestone, while ensuring there is enough capacity to deal with future waste needs in a sustainable way.
The draft plan includes planning policies and proposed site allocations and is supported by a range of technical evidence covering issues such as flood risk, sustainability, environmental protection and future waste requirements.
Councillor Danny Brookes, executive councillor for Environment and Planning, said the consultation was an important opportunity for local people to have their voices heard.
"The Minerals and Waste Local Plan plays an important role in shaping how Lincolnshire meets future demand for minerals and manages waste in a sustainable way," he said.
"This consultation is an opportunity for residents, businesses, environmental groups and communities to review the proposed policies and site allocations and provide procedural or legal feedback before the plan is submitted for independent examination."
The latest consultation forms part of the statutory Regulation 19 stage of the planning process and follows previous rounds of public engagement, including consultations held in 2022 and 2024.
Once the consultation closes, responses will be compiled and submitted alongside the plan to the Secretary of State, before an independent planning inspector examines the proposals.
Council leaders are encouraging anyone with an interest in how Lincolnshire develops over the coming decades to take part.
The consultation opens at 9am on Monday, June 15, and runs until 5pm on Friday, July 31.