Kingsley Neighbourhood Plan Statement – Kingsley Parish Council
This is a brief update from the Kingsley Parish Council (KPC) on what has occurred recently regarding the Kingsley Neighbourhood plan.
Over the last 18 months, the development of the plan has been undertaken by an independent steering group, Kingsley Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group (KNPSG), comprised of volunteers from the village and representatives of KPC. The steering group was provided with wide powers, delegated by KPC as the ‘Qualifying Body’ to complete this task, with the appointment of a independent Chairman to complete the plan.
The main questionnaire for the development of the plan was prepared and circulated a few weeks ago within the village; but unfortunately had a very negative response from two of the key stakeholders as well as many other residents in the village following its identification of two privately-owned pieces of land, temporarily leased for sporting and leisure activities, as designated ‘Green Spaces’. As a consequence, KPC was faced with the prospect of immediately losing two important assets to the village as well as several ancillary issues with regard to its legal responsibilities as the qualifying body and also, inter alia, compliance with data protection legislation.
KPC suspended further activities, pro tem, by members of the steering group. It adopted resolutions at its meeting on 16th July 2019 to withdraw the questionnaire and eventually revise the terms of reference under which the KNPSG were set up and in which its delegated responsibilities were defined.
We recognise that a great deal of work has been undertaken by this group of volunteers over this period and the Parish Council would like to acknowledge & thank them for their substantial efforts on behalf of the village residents. KPC is now in discussions with the Cheshire West and Chester Planning Authorities to see how neighbourhood planning could be continued. If this is successful, then the work done by KNPSG would not be lost
Unfortunately, the existing questionnaires which have been completed have been collected and stored in a safe location but will be destroyed. We still consider that, on balance, the village would be well-served in terms of planning future housing development if it prepared a neighbourhood plan.
Flt Lt Mike Stubbs RAF VR(T) Rtd MInstF
Locum Parish Clerk
Kingsley Parish Council