Thursday 21st November 2024, 7pm
Join us at Roxton Village Hall for the launch of the Green Infrastructure Survey.
Make Roxton a greener, healthier place to live!
This is the first meeting where you as Roxton residents will be invited to share your thoughts and ideas on enhancing our green spaces. This is a vital part of the Roxton Neighbourhood Plan.
Mike Fayers from Beds Rural Community Charity will be there to help us and facilitate discussions.
7 pm start.
Business Surveys
Could local businesses please return any completed surveys before the end of November? Email to info@roxtonplan.org.uk or drop off at 38 Hugh Street, Roxton.
Once collated, the results and general feedback from Business Surveys will be shared.
Calling all landowners!
From the Business Surveys and preliminary discussions with landowners, currently, no sites have been suggested (to the NPSG) for Allotments or Community Green space. There are new housing applications on the Bedford Planning Portal, but we have not met with anyone. If you are a landowner who would be interested in working with the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, please get in touch: info@roxtonplan.org.uk.
When residents' questionnaires are sent out, we can then be a bit more specific when garnering views on where (if anywhere) future developments are planned.
Timeline So Far
2014
Roxton Neighbourhood Plan - Area Designation by BBC
2022
November:
Roxton Parish Council (RPC) held an open forum to discuss a speculative housing development. RPC stressed the need for a Neighbourhood Plan. RPC asked any parishioners interested in forming an NP Steering Group to email RPC (see RPC Minutes Nov 2022).
2023
January:
RPC Clerk advised that she had received interest from two members of the public - Claire and Julian. Claire was at the RPC meeting and asked officially for permission to form a NP Steering Group. RPC agreed (see RPC Minutes Jan 2023).
March :
Roxton Parish Council nominated their representative to join Claire and Julian - Chris
First meeting of the Roxton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group - Sue joins the NPSG
Communication with BRCC and Locality!, as well as other local Neighbourhood Planning groups
Leaflet drop to promote the new Steering Group and recruit more volunteers.
May:
Chair of RPC introduced the Neighbourhood Plan and Steering Group in his Annual Report (see Minutes of the RPC Annual General Meeting).
July:
3 more volunteers joined - Kim, Mike, and Brian
Update given to RPC (see RPC Minutes July 2023)
Meeting with BRCC - Jemma (see NPSG minutes).
September:
Claire Rose (already in the NPSG) was co-opted onto RPC. This means that, although the NPSG is a separate entity from RPC, it now has two RPC councillors within it (just by coincidence).
Update given to RPC (see RPC minutes Sep 2023).
October:
Information Leaflet/ Invitation to the Consultation Launch Events at the Village Hall delivered to local residents
November:
2 x Consultation launch events held at the Village Hall
Early 2024:
Leaflet drop - initial feedback from the community events in November
Local businesses and stakeholders contacted
Summer 2024:
Green Infrastructure Survey Commissioned
Projected Timeline... next steps...
Green Infrastructure Survey:
Consultation Event in November took place on 21st November
Heritage and Historic Environment Consultation early 25
Residents Questionnaires: Summer 25
Questionnaires distributed to all residents
Questionnaires returned & analysed
Draft:
Based on public consultation feedback, we will aim to prepare a draft plan for public comment around Summer /Autumn 2025. This is an obligatory formal step known as ‘pre-submission’ consultation (Regulation 14).
Final draft - based on feedback and continuing consultations - will be prepared for submission to Bedford Borough Council. If all goes according to schedule, this will be achieved in 2025.
Bedford Borough Council checks:
Bedford Borough Council will carry out their own Neighbourhood Plan consultation and check everything necessary has been provided.
Bedford Borough Council will publicise the Neighbourhood Plan and then arrange an independent examination to check it conforms to all the necessary legal and technical requirements, and make any recommendations.
Referendum:
Before the Plan can come into force, it must get the backing of a majority of residents voting in a local referendum (which is why the more people we speak to, the easier this will be!).
Our aim is to have completed the process and hold the local referendum by late 2025.
