Silent majority urged to find its voice
http://www.dailyfix.co.uk/articles/81086/1/Silent-majority-urged-to-find-its-voice/Page1.html
By Chief Editor
Published on 15 Feb 2010
Last few public events to help shape the future of Herefordshire
Residents of Herefordshire have just a few public meetings left to ask questions and have their say now on how the county, the city and the market towns will be developed in the future.
The Shaping Our Place consultation aims to help turn Herefordshire into a new land of opportunity, with more and better paid jobs, more decent and affordable homes, and better transport links. Launched by Herefordshire Council on 18 January, it is due to finish on 12 March and will affect everyone who lives and works in the county.
The consultation sets out options for the locations of new communities in the city and the county’s towns and villages, as well as where new employment land could go and how transport might be improved, including whether the Hereford relief road should go to the east or west of the city.
The council has undertaken road shows or events in Hereford and all the market towns, as well as workshops in schools and colleges, business briefings and several public and parish council meetings. The next two weeks see the last few big public events: on 23 February, at Ledbury, St Katherine Street Car Park from 10am to 1pm; also on 23 February at Hereford’s Aylestone High School from 6pm to 8pm; on 24 February in the south of the county at Ewyas Harold Memorial Hall Car Park from 10am to 1pm, and on 2 March in Ross at the Larruperz Centre, starting at 7pm.
“This is the most important consultation ever to be undertaken in the county, and I am pleased to see so many local people getting involved in the issues”, said Councillor John Jarvis, cabinet member for environment and strategic housing. “However, it is so important that the silent majority finds its voice and helps to shape the county they live in, so I hope everyone will find the time to please look on the council’s website, pop into a council info shop, look out for simple questionnaires in the local press or join in the discussions at one of our public events”.
The consultation is driven by the need to grow the county. Herefordshire has below average wage levels for the region but above average house prices. There are 5,000 people on the county’s housing waiting list and demand is high for homes that are decent and affordable.
Herefordshire is recognised as providing a good education. But without a university, or sufficient higher education to build skills and qualifications, or good career prospects, the council knows young people are more likely to find better prospects elsewhere.
The county also needs more enterprises, offering high quality jobs. More space for employment land has to be found. Growth in the county will provide stronger markets for local firms to thrive and prosper - and safeguard local essential public services.
Sorting out Hereford’s traffic problems is a major priority. Previous consultation shows that most local people feel that a blend of public transport improvements and a new relief road and second river crossing is the preferred solution. However, the route – either to the west or the east of the city – needs careful consideration and the consultation details the implications of either option. Leominster is also identified as requiring a southern relief road.
The strategy for the market towns is to further promote their roles as service and economic centres for their rural hinterlands but also improve links with Hereford. Several villages could see development designed to increase affordable housing and sustain essential services, including schools, and new shops, along with rural transport improvements.
People’s views will be analysed and proposed policies developed and presented back to cabinet later in 2010 and publicised, before being submitted to the Secretary of State, who will arrange for a public examination and inspector’s report with final adoption anticipated in 2011. It provides a chance for everyone to help finalise the Local Development Framework, which will be the blueprint for planning and developing Herefordshire for the future.
In parallel, the council is also running a consultation on the Local Transport Plan, which will be adopted by April 2011 and will drive the county’s transport strategy for the next 15 years. The review of the transport strategy is intended to align transport policy with the wider needs of the county and will help coordinate support for growth. The Local Transport Plan consultation enables local people to let the council know what their priorities for transport are for the county, whether it is greater public transport investment, more cycle routes, better highway maintenance or further road safety improvements.
“Herefordshire has the room and freedom to grow, while retaining its special heritage and environment”, added Councillor Jarvis. “But it is up to local people to help grow the right future for the county, the city and the market towns. The local development framework sets the planning blueprint for the next 16 years and I hope everyone will look at the options and make their views known”.
Members of the public wishing to comment can access the consultation documents and complete a questionnaire on the council’s website www.herefordshire.gov.uk. Literature can also be picked up from council info shops.
Residents of Herefordshire have just a few public meetings left to ask questions and have their say now on how the county, the city and the market towns will be developed in the future.
The Shaping Our Place consultation aims to help turn Herefordshire into a new land of opportunity, with more and better paid jobs, more decent and affordable homes, and better transport links. Launched by Herefordshire Council on 18 January, it is due to finish on 12 March and will affect everyone who lives and works in the county.
The consultation sets out options for the locations of new communities in the city and the county’s towns and villages, as well as where new employment land could go and how transport might be improved, including whether the Hereford relief road should go to the east or west of the city.
The council has undertaken road shows or events in Hereford and all the market towns, as well as workshops in schools and colleges, business briefings and several public and parish council meetings. The next two weeks see the last few big public events: on 23 February, at Ledbury, St Katherine Street Car Park from 10am to 1pm; also on 23 February at Hereford’s Aylestone High School from 6pm to 8pm; on 24 February in the south of the county at Ewyas Harold Memorial Hall Car Park from 10am to 1pm, and on 2 March in Ross at the Larruperz Centre, starting at 7pm.
“This is the most important consultation ever to be undertaken in the county, and I am pleased to see so many local people getting involved in the issues”, said Councillor John Jarvis, cabinet member for environment and strategic housing. “However, it is so important that the silent majority finds its voice and helps to shape the county they live in, so I hope everyone will find the time to please look on the council’s website, pop into a council info shop, look out for simple questionnaires in the local press or join in the discussions at one of our public events”.
The consultation is driven by the need to grow the county. Herefordshire has below average wage levels for the region but above average house prices. There are 5,000 people on the county’s housing waiting list and demand is high for homes that are decent and affordable.
Herefordshire is recognised as providing a good education. But without a university, or sufficient higher education to build skills and qualifications, or good career prospects, the council knows young people are more likely to find better prospects elsewhere.
The county also needs more enterprises, offering high quality jobs. More space for employment land has to be found. Growth in the county will provide stronger markets for local firms to thrive and prosper - and safeguard local essential public services.
Sorting out Hereford’s traffic problems is a major priority. Previous consultation shows that most local people feel that a blend of public transport improvements and a new relief road and second river crossing is the preferred solution. However, the route – either to the west or the east of the city – needs careful consideration and the consultation details the implications of either option. Leominster is also identified as requiring a southern relief road.
The strategy for the market towns is to further promote their roles as service and economic centres for their rural hinterlands but also improve links with Hereford. Several villages could see development designed to increase affordable housing and sustain essential services, including schools, and new shops, along with rural transport improvements.
People’s views will be analysed and proposed policies developed and presented back to cabinet later in 2010 and publicised, before being submitted to the Secretary of State, who will arrange for a public examination and inspector’s report with final adoption anticipated in 2011. It provides a chance for everyone to help finalise the Local Development Framework, which will be the blueprint for planning and developing Herefordshire for the future.
In parallel, the council is also running a consultation on the Local Transport Plan, which will be adopted by April 2011 and will drive the county’s transport strategy for the next 15 years. The review of the transport strategy is intended to align transport policy with the wider needs of the county and will help coordinate support for growth. The Local Transport Plan consultation enables local people to let the council know what their priorities for transport are for the county, whether it is greater public transport investment, more cycle routes, better highway maintenance or further road safety improvements.
“Herefordshire has the room and freedom to grow, while retaining its special heritage and environment”, added Councillor Jarvis. “But it is up to local people to help grow the right future for the county, the city and the market towns. The local development framework sets the planning blueprint for the next 16 years and I hope everyone will look at the options and make their views known”.
Members of the public wishing to comment can access the consultation documents and complete a questionnaire on the council’s website www.herefordshire.gov.uk. Literature can also be picked up from council info shops.