Members of the steering group for the Ross-on-Wye Neighbourhood Plan were at Ross Carnival once again. On this occasion it was not so much a consultation event as it focused on awareness-raising about the settled proposals in the plan that will be submitted for formal community-wide consultation. This is starting in a few weeks.

The small display in a marquee at the main Carnival field during the afternoon of August 4th outlined three main topics: the policies that would be included in the plan, the local green spaces, and the development site allocations proposed.

Members of the Steering Group and Town Council staff were present at all times and helped the 80 or so people who attended (many of whom were new to the process) to understand the plan, its purpose, outcomes etc.

Melvin Reynolds, Chair of the Ross-on-Wye Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Sub Committee said:?“No new issues were raised, but the recurring question of ‘what service provision will follow all these new homes?’ was raised in most of the conversations.”

The group explained that the NDP is concerned only with planning issues and that in most instances ‘the market’ would determine the later delivery of any additional services.

Having said that, they were also able to point to some of the criteria-based policies and to the related projects that had been identified and that could support Plan Policies.

It is expected that the Plan will be submitted to Herefordshire Council before the end of August and that a six-week consultation will start in mid September.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.