In a referendum of voters in Stinsford parish held on 5th May 2022, the draft neighbourhood plan received an overwhelming vote of approval, by 113 votes to 11. The turnout was 47.5% of the electorate.
The parish council and the plan steering group were naturally delighted with the result, and would like to thank all the residents who contributed their views during the preparation of the plan, and all the volunteers who helped to compile it. A debt of enormous gratitude is also due to Jo Witherden, the local planning consultant who supported the parish volunteers to achieve a professional and well received plan. Final authorisation of the plan was granted by Dorset Council, who 'made' the plan by a resolution at their Cabinet meeting in June 2022.
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The plan's steering group were very pleased to receive encouraging comments from the plan's independent examiner, Andrew Mead. He commended the Parish Council, the Steering Group and other voluntary contributors for producing a professionally presented and well-illustrated Plan, which he found logical, well-structured and very informative.
The examiner went on to say that “(t)he high quality of the Plan is demonstrated by the very small number of recommended modifications. With those modifications, the Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan will make a positive contribution to the Development Plan for the area and, notwithstanding the challenges faced by the possible northern expansion of Dorchester, should enable the unique and diverse character and appearance of Stinsford Parish to be maintained.” The steering group is very grateful to everyone who contributed to the plan. Many local people attended meetings, took part in surveys, or sent in ideas, comments, photographs and local information. The group hopes that the plan does justice to their efforts and to their appreciation for the parish. We received the Examiner's first reaction today, and have published his letter on our 'emerging policy' page. We are encouraged that, so far, he has not found any major flaws in the plan. However he is still likely to raise questions, which will need to be satisfactorily answered, before the plan can complete its process. We will continue to keep you updated via this website and the parish magazine.
Dorset Council's 'Regulation 16' consultation is now open, until the end of Wednesday 24th November. Please visit their web page to see the plan and supporting documents, and to take part in the consultation.
On 1st October Dorset Council notified us that we had complied with the requirements for Stinsford Neighbourhood Plan to go forward to its next stage. Dorset Council will publicise the draft plan for a minimum of six weeks, starting around mid-October, and will then submit the plan for independent examination. You can see the draft plan and supporting documents on our 'emerging policy' and 'evidence base' pages. Stinsford Parish Council will have its final say about the parish's draft Neighbourhood Plan on Monday 6th September. The plan has been prepared over the last three years by a working group made up of local volunteers and some members of the parish council. The policies in the plan have been designed, and subsequently modified, based on a series of consultation events and surveys in the parish. The working group has been supported by some expert planning help, funded by grants from the government's neighbourhood planning unit.
The plan which Stinsford Parish Council will be considering can be seen here. More details of what happens next are on our Emerging Policy page. The period for comments on our draft neighbourhood plan closes on Tuesday 27th April. The plan seeks to protect the special environment north and east of Dorchester, and to provide for limited development to meet local people’s needs.
The draft plan can be seen here, or as a summary or hard copy to borrow via local contacts who are listed here and on parish noticeboards. Comments can be submitted online, or by post to SNP Group, c/o Stinsford Parish Clerk, 57 Louise Road, Dorchester DT1 2LU, or by email to [email protected]. Only a week to go ... The Parish Council will consider all the comments sent in and will update the plan. There is then a scrutiny by the planning authorities, and finally a local referendum before it can be adopted as policy. Now is the time to have your say! Thank you to everyone who has taken part in our consultation so far. We are sorry we have had to cancel the face-to-face drop-in event we’d planned for Saturday 5th December, due to Covid Tier 2 rules.
If anyone still has questions or comments on this stage of the plan please phone 01305 267611 or 01305 267758, by 23rd December. Or speak to your village’s contact for the plan. During November we’re inviting residents to take part in a short, locally-based Zoom meeting, to comment on the first draft of the neighbourhood plan. Each meeting is for people living in a particular area of the parish. All the meetings start at 7 pm.
The meeting dates are: Frome Whitfield Wed 4th November Cokers Frome Tue 10th November Higher Bockhampton Wed 11th November Stinsford hamlet Thu 12th November Kingston Maurward Estate Mon 16th November Upper Stinsford (Birkin House area) Tue 17th November Higher Kingston Wed 18th November Bhompston & Pine Lodge Thu 19th November Lower Bockhampton Mon 23rd November Details of how to join in your local meeting can be found on the leaflet sent to each household, or by contacting the neighbourhood plan group. There will also be a socially distanced drop-in session (Covid permitting) from 10 til 2pm on Saturday 5th December in the Old Library at Kingston Maurward College, for anyone who cannot join a Zoom meeting or who has additional questions. Residents are invited to send in comments via our survey form. The closing date for comments is 5th December. During the Covid-19 period the neighbourhood plan steering group meets online, as and when required. Please get in touch with us at stinsfordnplan[at]gmail[dot]com if you are interested in helping out. .
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March 2022
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