Residents are being urged to have their say on Warminster’s draft neighbourhood plan, a community-led document that gives local people a voice in how the town develops over the next 15 years.
The updated plan helps decide where new development is most appropriate, what local housing needs should be met and where green spaces must be protected.
The draft Warminster Neighbourhood Plan 2 has been published for formal public consultation, with feedback invited over the next eight weeks until Monday 23rd March. Feedback from the community is needed to “make the plan better.”
It is the first formal consultation stage on the pre-submission draft version of the updated plan, known as a Regulation 14 consultation.
The Mayor of Warminster, Cllr Andrew Cooper, is encouraging all residents to take part.
He said, “I wholeheartedly commend the Neighbourhood Plan to the people of Warminster for consultation.
“This is the most important stage of producing the document, where everyone in Warminster can say exactly what they think – what they like, what they don’t like, what they think should remain in the Plan, what should be added in and what they feel should be removed.
“The Neighbourhood Plan is a working document, a draft which will improve through each and every contribution from all members of the community. Please, I urge all the people of Warminster to study and consider the document and add their own thoughts and feeling as the Town Council seeks to make the plan better and better.”
Residents do not need to comment on every section, only the issues that concern them.
The plan updates the original version from 2016 and reflects significant changes in Warminster, including new housing developments and challenges facing the town centre.
A spokesperson for Warminster Town Council said, “It is important to understand that legislation does not allow Neighbourhood Plans to simply prevent development.
“Due to national and regional housing targets, a Neighbourhood Plan cannot simply say ‘no’ to any more houses being built.
“Through the updated Neighbourhood Plan we can have more say on where new development is most appropriate, what our local housing needs are, how to achieve good design that adds to the positive qualities of our town and where green space and environmental features must be protected.”
The plan has been prepared by the Warminster Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, made up of local residents and town councillors, and supported by independent planning professionals.
Steering group chair Cllr Phil Keeble said, “In recent years, we’ve seen significant development pressure. Having an up-to-date Neighbourhood Plan gives us more control and proactive say by ensuring that planning decisions take in account our community’s priorities.”
The revised draft will be considered by Full Council with the intention of submitting it to Wiltshire Council and subsequently an Inspector for examination.
The residents of Warminster may, subject to decision, then be offered the chance to accept or reject the Plan in a referendum.
The plan and survey are available to access online at Warminsterplan.com
Hard copies of the draft plan and supporting leaflets will be available at the Civic Centre, Warminster Library, Warminster Sports Centre and Warminster Athenaeum.
Drop-in sessions will be held at the Civic Centre for residents to discuss the plan. These will take place on Saturday 31st January from 2.30pm until 4.30pm, Friday 20th February from 5pm until 7pm and Wednesday 18th March from 11am until 2pm.
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