BIRCHINGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN CONSULTATION IS COMPLETE!
WHAT NEXT?
First and foremost thank you to everyone who commented and provided feedback on the draft neighbourhood plan in 2021 and 2022. Many of you will know that when adopted the plan will give Birchington a much stronger say in planning matters that affect the village, the consultation was your opportunity to let us know whether the plan addresses matters that are important to you.
To view the comments please see the links below
Statutory Consultee Responses – To Open Attachments – Click Enable Editing At The Top Of The Page
Resident & Community Email Responses
Paper Questionnaires & Online Survey Feedback
All of the feedback was carefully analysed and the Parish Council revised the draft plan. This was considered and approved at a special meeting held at on 30 November 2021. The Plan was then formally submitted to Thanet District Council who carried out their own consultations over a six week period early in 2022. In June 2022, the Plan, with responses to their consultation and other supporting documents, was submitted to an Independent Examiner who had to consider whether it met the basic conditions laid down in planning regulations.
The Examiner asked for the “Basic Conditions Statement” to be changed in November 2022, so further consultation on the content of this document was carried out by Thanet District Council. The responses were reported to the Examiner.
In July 2023, the Examiner submitted his report to the Parish and District Councils. He recommended a series of modifications which, if accepted, would allow the Plan to go forward to referendum. These modifications were agreed and an amended plan was produced, known as the “Referendum Version”. This, together with other information, was published on the Thanet District Council and Birchington Parish Council websites week commencing 18 September 2023.
Thanet District Council is responsible for organising the referendum which is scheduled for Thursday 26 October 2023.
People entitled to vote in elections are eligible to vote in the referendum. For the Neighbourhood Plan to be “made” by Thanet District Council and have legal status within the Development Plan for Thanet, a simple majority of those voting would need to vote in support of the Plan.