Next phase of plans is on the horizon

I wonder how many people are aware that the next phase of the Blaby Council District Plan is on the horizon? It is happening right now and the closing date is Friday 12th. March 2021 - be sure to make your views known.

Blaby District Council is conducting an online survey to canvas your views, this is going to shape future developments in the Blaby District Council area from the present until 2035. They are expecting residents to wade through many pages of this survey on-line in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic when many residents in the district don’t have computer access to view the survey. One section alone is 68 pages written in jargon that only the most seasoned parish councillors can understand.

In the past these types of surveys have taken place in village halls and libraries where visual displays and people are on hand to answer questions.

It is my opinion that the survey should be postponed until the present pandemic is over, giving more residents the opportunity to make their opinions know to the people planning our future and shaping the Blaby District Council area.

It could hardly be considered a survey if the on-line viewing is minimal. I would predict that the on-line response to the survey will be so small that it would hold any validity?

I doubt few people will get past the first 68 page hurdle or bear the cost of printing it out to read and then be able to understand because of the language and jargon being used and no doubt if you ask any questions of the Blaby District Planning department the response will be slow coming because of the current pandemic.

Surely the best course of action would be to delay the survey so it can be fair and democratic giving a fairer picture to our planned future.

Jack Feast, Sharnford