We recently announced the intention to compile a Neighbourhood Plan by local residents and the parish council and to explain the purpose of this, namely:
- To set out a framework to guide residents, local authorities and developers on how the community wishes to manage and control future development in the parish over the next 15 years, along with its facilities, services and environment. This document is intended to be updated from time to time, as well as formally every five years.
- To record the historical and existing status and nature of the community and its environment.
- Establish an action plan that provides the community with a prioritised plan to improve its facilities, services and environment on a voluntary and assisted basis.
The Neighbourhood Plan therefore will:
- Identify the main community issues and objectives for Ingatestone and Fryerning as a whole.
- Make proposals for the development and use of land and allocates land for specific purposes.
- Set out the community’s policies for the management of development.
- Provide an Action Plan that schedules a series of desired projects arising from the residents’ vision for sustainable growth in the parish.
Since September 2017 Ingatestone and Fryerning Parish Council has begun the evidence gathering upon which the Neighbourhood Plan will be based.
A Neighbourhood Plan Advisory Committee (NPAC) has been set up, working with a ‘project plan’ to complete the plan in the Autumn of 2019, to coincide with the Local Development Plan produced by Brentwood Borough Council.
Working groups are being established and volunteers to join these are encouraged. Our residents have a lot of skills which will be useful to different elements of our plan. We want to make it as easy as possible for residents to engage with the plan, by creating topic based groups as the need arises. This prevents residents from having to make a wider commitment to the whole plan if they are not able, or do not wish to do so.
Our engagement with our community will be through these working groups who will gather evidence via questionnaires, focus groups, meetings with existing local groups, social media and individual interviews. These groups may include:
- Primary and secondary school children
- Young people (18-30)
- Business owners/ local businesses
- Commuters
- Older residents
- People employed in the parish
- Community groups and societies
- Families
- People with physical needs
- People with learning needs
- Residents’ associations
- Homeowners
- Tenants
- Faith groups
- Travellers
- Farmers
- Landowners and commissioners of service provided for residents
This initial information gathering phase will take place during the early months of 2018.
So far, some 12 residents have stepped forward to help. We need more. If you have an interest in joining in these discussions or wish to submit an opinion in any other way, please contact the parish office.
