‘Great to see a voice given to young people’

HUNDREDS of people have responded to say how they want Leek developed over the coming years.

A steering group is in the process of formulating a neighbourhood plan for the town.

Five public meetings have been held and the group has manned a stall at the town’s Totally Locally event held earlier this month.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of Leek Town Council, chairman of the steering group, Lesley Roberts, said: “Money is coming in from the government for the plan. We have held five meetings and have received hundreds of comments.

“People are very enthusiastic and there is great appreciation that a neighbourhood plan is being done.

“We are now collating all the evidence to come up with the top 10 priorities.

“Then we will go out to a referendum which needs 51 per cent to approve it.

“If it is approved it would go to an inspector and then it becomes legal.

“We will make sure that Leek Town Council is informed of the steering groups work.”

Leek councillor, Charlotte Atkins, said that the Totally Locally market day was very successful.

She said: “Hundreds of responses have been received from people. They have all been recorded

“The neighbourhood plan is open and transparent.”

Councillor Brian Johnson said that it must be appreciated that the plan is going under the heading of Leek Town Council.

He said: “The town council must be kept informed. It is all about keeping track on behalf of more than 20,000 people.

“Leek Town Council is the accountable body and we want to see how it is going.”

Councillor Roy Tomkinson, who is also the mayor of Leek, said: “The neighbourhood plan is being taken forward. I hope people will vote in the referendum so the plan is carried out.”

Councillor Pam Wood said it was great to see young people taking part.

She said: “At the Totally Locally stall it was great to see a voice being given to young people of the town. A lot of people have engaged in the project.”

Neighbourhood planning was introduced under the Localism Act in 2011. It gives communities a way to help shape the future of the place where they live and work.

It also enables members of the community to have more say where new houses, businesses, shops and community facilities should go.

Once the plan has been prepared, an independent examiner checks that it meets the correct standards.

Following this the district council will organise a referendum on the plan. If more than 50 per cent of people support it, the local planning authority must bring it into force.

Once a plan is in force, decisionmakers are obliged by law to take what it says into account when they consider proposals for development in the neighbourhood.