STRAFORDIANS have a while longer to make their thoughts known about the way forward for the town.
Volunteers representing townspeople have spent two years working on the Stratford Neighbourhood Plan, which details the way forward on everything from transport to tourism in the future.
A six week pre-submission consultation period began in May, but organisers were desperate to hear from more residents ahead of the originally deadline of Friday (July 3). They were concerned many people are confusing the plan with the district council’s Core Strategy consultation.
But the deadline for comments has now been pushed back to July 27.
Stratford Neighbourhood Plan chairman Mark Haselden said: “Due to procedural reasons, a number of consultees including Stratford District Council are unable to formalise their response to the draft Neighbourhood Plan until July 27.
“Therefore, in order to be fair to the people who live and work in the town, and to give all consultees sufficient time to respond, we have decided to extend the consultation period for the Neighbourhood Plan also until 23:59 on July 27.”
A public consultation on the original plan in 2013 found residents were keen for Stratford to retain its market town character and unique heritage.
The wide-ranging updated plan focuses on hot topics such as the increasing traffic congestion in the town and the prospect of expanding existing schools or building new ones to meet the needs of the town’s growing population.
Residents also raised concerns about the availability of green space and the plan suggests making areas including Rowley Fields, Welcombe Fields and Shottery Fields ‘local green space’ in a bid to protect them from the threat of housing development.
Visit www.ourstratford.org.uk to read the full draft proposals or printed versions are available at Stratford Library, the Town Hall and at the district council offices.
