MALMESBURY NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING WATCH
Malmesbury Town Council took a decision to dissolve the Malmesbury Neighbourhood Steering Group - those who worked on the Neighbourhood Plan. This was without even referring to the Chair or the majority of the community representatives of the group. This decision was also contrary to the advice of a senior planning expert, who described the ongoing and important role for the MNSG.
I did not agree with this disappointing action, because of the ongoing part the MNSG had to play and also losing the voice of many non-Council reps such as the local schools, who for instance as the experts were able to come together and shape vital decisions about local school provision. I wrote about this previously - click here to read "Gagging Our Community Voice."
However, it is Wiltshire Council which is the Planning Authority for the Malmesbury Area. So I am very pleased to report that our Wiltshire Councillor Simon Killane is keen to continue supporting community led representation in respect of the Neighbourhood Plan and planning in our area.
In his own words " it is my responsibility to make sure your collective voice is heard loud and clear when the council (Wiltshire) makes decisions about planning applications in Malmesbury".
Click here for the Malmesbury Neighbourhood Planning Watch website.
Cllr. Killane described the reasons for this as follows:
"Our Neighbourhood must have a strong collective voice to make sure the policies in the Neighbourhood Plan that we worked tirelessly to build are adhered to and that any attempt to undermine it are robustly challenged. I am your local elected Wiltshire Councillor on the decision making council authority that decide on planning applications and it is my responsibility to make sure your collective voice is heard loud and clear when the council makes decisions about planning applications in Malmesbury. The recent unwise decision of Malmesbury Town Council to disband the MNSG does not stop us from continuing to be the eyes and ears of the community and make sure that Community Led Planning continues to shape a better development future for all of us."
I did not agree with this disappointing action, because of the ongoing part the MNSG had to play and also losing the voice of many non-Council reps such as the local schools, who for instance as the experts were able to come together and shape vital decisions about local school provision. I wrote about this previously - click here to read "Gagging Our Community Voice."
However, it is Wiltshire Council which is the Planning Authority for the Malmesbury Area. So I am very pleased to report that our Wiltshire Councillor Simon Killane is keen to continue supporting community led representation in respect of the Neighbourhood Plan and planning in our area.
In his own words " it is my responsibility to make sure your collective voice is heard loud and clear when the council (Wiltshire) makes decisions about planning applications in Malmesbury".
Click here for the Malmesbury Neighbourhood Planning Watch website.
Cllr. Killane described the reasons for this as follows:
"Our Neighbourhood must have a strong collective voice to make sure the policies in the Neighbourhood Plan that we worked tirelessly to build are adhered to and that any attempt to undermine it are robustly challenged. I am your local elected Wiltshire Councillor on the decision making council authority that decide on planning applications and it is my responsibility to make sure your collective voice is heard loud and clear when the council makes decisions about planning applications in Malmesbury. The recent unwise decision of Malmesbury Town Council to disband the MNSG does not stop us from continuing to be the eyes and ears of the community and make sure that Community Led Planning continues to shape a better development future for all of us."
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