PEOPLE who believe there are issues with the Draft Submission Local Plan can submit their views to Cotswold District Council from tomorrow.

Public comments can be submitted online or on an official form during a six-week period from Monday, June 27, until Monday, August 8.

The document has been approved by councillors for submission to an independent inspector, subject to potential minor amendments.

The inspector will review the Local Plan and look closely at any comments submitted. They will want to know why people may consider the Plan to be unsound, what changes are being sought and why those changes would ensure the Plan is sound.

The district council is sending a newsletter to all households explaining the criteria for testing the soundness of the plan and explaining how the key policies were drawn up in accordance with national planning policy requirements.

There will also be two public drop-in events to assist with the public consultation process: 

  • Wednesday 6 July from 2pm to 6.30pm at Moreton Area Centre, High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh
  • Thursday 7July from 2pm to 6.30pm at the Committee Rooms, Council Offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester

The plan will be made available for viewing on the Council's website from Monday, June 27 (tomorrow) at http://consult.cotswold.gov.uk. 

Hard copies will also be made available to view at the council offices in Cirencester and Moreton-in-Marsh, and at libraries across the district.

Comments be submitted online at http://consult.cotswold.gov.uk, or emailed to localplan@cotswold.gov.uk using the official form available at www.cotswold.gov.uk/go/ForwardPlanning or on a hard copy form which can be obtained from council offices or libraries.

Cllr Nick Parsons, the Cotswold District Council deputy leader and cabinet member for forward planning, said: “Councillors agreed on the text of the Draft Submission Local Plan when we met in May, and it is now being made available to the public for this formal round of consultation before it is sent to the government for examination.

"People should bear in mind that, when considering technical studies and evidence that we have gathered over the last few years – including many comments from the public at various stages of the process - we have had to seek compromises between national requirements and local feelings.

"This means that some individuals and groups might disagree in whole or in part with what is proposed, and they are entitled to make their views known.

"We aim to send the Draft Submission Plan to the government during the autumn and we are hoping that it will be examined in public by an independent inspector early in 2017.

"Once adopted, the Local Plan will guide development across the district up to 2031.”