Biggleswade Neighbourhood Plan: There's still time to fill out the public engagement questionnaire

There's still time to have your say in shaping Biggleswade s Neighbourhood Plan by taking part in the town council's engagement questionnaire.

Biggleswade Town Council is in the process of producing a Neighbourhood Plan for the parish area. A Neighbourhood Plan allows a community to play a more prominent role in its future,

giving it the power to create a shared vision and policies that will shape the development and growth of the area.

Mayor councillor Madeline Russell said: "The questionnaire is quite short but there is opportunity for comment at each stage. We would love to hear people’s views on the different aspects of the Neighbourhood Plan and how they would like to see the town develop. Growth will come, regardless, and we have to manage it in the best way possible."

The Neighbourhood Plan, once adopted, will sit alongside the Local Plan prepared by Central Bedfordshire Council - and will carry significant weight in determining future planning applications located in or affecting the parish.

A first public engagement for the Biggleswade Neighbourhood Plan was held by the town council in March 2019, and featured a questionnaire for the public to complete as well as open sessions.

Biggleswade Town Council is now undertaking a second public engagement which will run until May 3.

The questionnaire for the second public engagement has been produced following an analysis of the first public engagement questionnaire responses, which the town council has used to produce a draft vision, aims and a series of themes for the Neighbourhood Plan.

Now, the town council is calling for your feedback on that draft vision, which will then be used to form the policies in the neighbourhood plan.

You can fill out the questionnaire online or request a paper copy of the questionnaire by emailing Lisa King, Biggleswade Community Agent, on [email protected] or

calling 07534 484750. The completed questionnaire can then be returned using the Freepost envelope provided.

To find out more about the work undertaken so far on the Biggleswade Neighbourhood Plan, visit the Biggleswade Town Council website. To find out more about the Neighbourhood Planning process, visit the Locality website.

If you would like any further information about Biggleswade Neighbourhood Plan or would like some assistance in completing this questionnaire please contact Jemma McLean,

Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity on [email protected] or 01234 834932.