The View from Shute End...

Wokingham Unitary Councillor Annette Drake reports

Local Plan published for consultation

After months of detailed work Wokingham Unitary Authority has published proposed changes to the planning blueprint that will guide development in our area until 2006, and the document is open to public consultation until 12 March.

These changes have been made in response to the recommendations of a Government planning inspector who held a public inquiry into the Local Plan in November 2001. The Council then had to decide whether to accept or reject the Inspector’s recommendation. If recommendation was not acceptable the council had to give good reasons for rejection.

The plan also required modifications to reflect Government guidance, and these were agreed by the Council’s executive in December 2002 and published for a six-week period of public consultation last month. The Council will only consider objections to the modifications themselves, and objections to the failure to accept a recommendation of the Inspector.

After the closing date for comments on 12 March, all the responses will be analysed. They will then be reported to the Council’s decision-making Executive in July to decide how to respond to the objections, including whether to make further modifications.

If the Council does not wish to make further modifications, and if the Council does not propose to hold a modification inquiry then it will advertise its intention to adopt the plan in March 2004, with final adoption in April 2004. Visit the Council’s website at www.wokingham.gov.uk to find our more, or view copies of the document in the district’s libraries.

Safer Routes to School – delayed

Unfortunately we have got to be patient again! Work which was due to start in January to improve road junctions with the A321, narrow School Road and provide additional signage at St Nicholas School has been delayed. The contractor’s new start date is 10 March.