The first version of the Okeford Fitzpaine Neighbourhood Plan has now been written and we now want to hear your views on it.

How will we do this and when ?

Later this month we will start 6 weeks of ‘Saturday Surgeries’ when you can find out about the Plan content, and discuss this with members of the Project Team. If you want to comment on the content of the Plan we will also tell you how to do this. And we will reply to every written (paper and electronic) comment we receive.

After this first public consultation we will hand the Plan over to North Dorset District Council, and they will take the Plan through to Referendum at the end of Q1 2017. That’s when we will really need your support to vote for the Plan after the hard work that has gone into producing your Neighbourhood Plan.

And now some details…….

Next week you will receive a further leaflet which will provide a summary of the Plan content. Beyond this the timeline is planned as follows:

• 24th September is the start of Public Consultation. We will hold a launch of the Plan in the Pavilion at the Recreation Ground on Castle Lane. Members of the Neighbourhood Plan Project Team and the Consultants that have helped write the Plan will be available to discuss the Plan content. This will run from 10.30-12.30 and refreshments will be available.
• On each of the Saturdays in October we will continue this consultation at the Mud-Pie Café in the Village Hall between 10.30-12.30.
• On Wednesday 5^th October we will also be in the Skittle Alley in the Royal Oak from 7.00-9.00 pm .
• The Public Consultation will run for a minimum of 6 weeks and will conclude by Friday November 4^th        
• A copy of the Plan will also be available to read on the Parish Council Website, and in paper form in the Village Shop and the Royal Oak.

So you will have plenty of time to read and contribute your comments on the Plan.

In parallel with this the Project Team will be consulting neighbouring town and parish councils, landowners/developers, community groups and the 4 key local institutions of School, Shop, Pub and Church, and certain statutory bodies.

Your comments on the Plan received during the Public Consultation will publicised in a report which will be issued during December 2016.

We then hand the Plan and supporting evidence to NDDC in January 2017 to take the Plan through to Referendum at the end of Q1 2017. More information on this stage will be provided around the end of 2016.

Don’t forget we will need more than 50% of those voting in the Referendum to vote ‘yes’ for NDDC to bring the Plan into force.

Okeford Fitzpaine Neighbourhood Plan Project Team – September  2016