Neighbourhood Planning a priority for Market Rasen Town Council

The council will be continuing its commitment to developing the Neighbourhood Plan.

A Neighbourhood Plan gives communities direct power to develop a vision to shape development and growth in their community.

A Neighbourhood Plan allows local people to identify the right type of developments and infrastructure provision for their area in line with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area.

Neighbourhood planning is a right that communities in England can choose to exercise in order to enable them to play a much stronger role in the shaping of the area in which they live and work.

While the Town Council is responsible for neighbourhood planning it is ultimately the residents of Market Rasen who will give their consent to adopt the plan when a referendum is held.

As such, the Town Council will need to work with other community members, both through consultation and through members of the community taking an active part in the steering group which is to be set up.

The first step in the Neighbourhood Plan will be to submit an application to West Lindsey District Council to designate the area that will be covered by the plan.

This will be followed by extensive work to develop the draft plan and engage in public consultation before the plan is submitted and independently examined, after which the referendum will be held.

Once in place, all planning applications will be determined in accordance with the Neighbourhood Plan.

Residents who are interested in the development of the Neighbourhood Plan or would just like more information will have the opportunity to learn more and make comments as part of the upcoming Annual Town Meeting on April 29 (further details to be announced).

• The town council office, at the Festival Hall, Caistor Road, is open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

Contact can also be made by phone on 01673 842479 or email [email protected]