Herefordshire Council have started a consultation on the Pre-Submission Publication of the Core strategy since 22nd May. People have until Thursday 3rd July 2014 to submit comments on this plan. You can only comment on whether you think the Plan is “Sound”. These notes give some simple guidance on how you can respond. Comments on content alone, without reference to the “Soundness” tests, are unlikely to be taken into account.
The Form to use for your response can be found on the Council’s website or you can ask the Council for a paper copy to complete and then return it by post. (Tel Herefordshire Council 01432 383357).
The completed forms will be collated by the Council and sent to the Planning Inspectorate. It will usually take around 7 months for the Planning Inspectorate to examine all the documentation about the Core Strategy and hold an Examination in Public (EIP). If you want to participate at the hearing of the Examination in Public, chaired by the Planning Inspector, then you need to submit a response to this consultation and provide reasons why you consider it necessary for you to participate. After the guidance notes below, we have provided a sample of Form B completed on a test of “Soundness”.
GUIDANCE
STEP 1. Find text in the Core Strategy (PSP Version May 2014) you would like to challenge (i.e. where it seems wrong; misleading; or some facts seem to have been omitted).
STEP 2. If there are several things to challenge, make a list showing page number, paragraph number, policy number if appropriate, quote from the Core strategy text, and write down your thoughts on evidence to challenge the text. Then you will be ready to translate this information into what is asked for on the Core strategy Representation Form.
STEP 3. On this form, B2, your challenge is most likely to come under the category “not justified”, meaning you are challenging the research findings; and/or the appropriateness of the strategy, considered against reasonable alternatives, and/or “not effective”, meaning that you are concerned that there are barriers to the delivery of the proposed infrastructure planning, and/or the delivery planning is inflexible and/or undeliverable.
STEP 4. In part B3 of the Form give your reasons for your challenge.
STEP 5. You need to mark whether you are supporting or objecting to the element of the Core Strategy selected.
STEP 6. In part B5 of the form, you have an opportunity to suggest deletions, amendments or additions to the wording in the Core Strategy you are challenging.
STEP 7. If you have several challenges to make from different sections of the Core Strategy, you will need to complete a new Representation Form (Part B) for each part of the plan you are objecting to.
STEP 8. Send in your completed forms in time for them to be received by the Council deadline of 23.59hrs, Thursday 3rd July 2014.
STEP 9. Keep copies of your forms and share your thoughts with others. Encourage them to complete and submit their own forms.
