The team of volunteers working on the development of a Neighbourhood Plan for Westbury with Westbury Town Council want to know what buildings and places the residents love about Westbury and are holding a consultation during May to find out.
Beth Thomas, chair of the heritage group for the Neighbourhood Plan said, “Westbury has a fascinating history going back to prehistoric times, which many people living in Westbury are unaware of.
“We have over 150 listed buildings in the town and the heritage sub-group want to use the history and heritage of Westbury to help make the town better for the future. As part of this project, we want to find out what buildings and places the people of Westbury value in the town. What buildings do you love? What places do you want to keep and improve?
“The group has created a questionnaire which can also be found on the Westbury Town Council website or you can meet the volunteers working with the council on the plan at two drop-in sessions. The first will be held at the Westbury Heritage Centre on the High Street on Saturday 18th May between 10am and 2pm and then on Thursday 23rd May at Westbury Library on Edward Street from 3pm – 6pm. Find out more about the history of Westbury from the team and share what you value most about our town. Please drop in any time. You can also complete the questionnaire on line at www.westburytowncouncil.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan/.
“Westbury Town Council is working on a Neighbourhood Plan for Westbury. Neighbourhood planning is a way for people to decide the future of where they live and work. A neighbourhood plan cannot block development, but it can help control it. The Neighbourhood Plan is not only limited to the development of housing, it can be used to develop a shared vision for the neighbourhood; choose where new homes, shops, offices and other development should be built; identify and protect important local green spaces; influence what new buildings should look like.
“Once approved, the plan will have legal force in setting out what development is acceptable in Westbury and for what reasons. Developers and local authority planners will have to take notice of it. Without a Neighbourhood Plan, we will have little control over any development that takes place and will receive less community funds from those developments.
“Westbury Town Council is looking for more people to take part in shaping the Neighbourhood Plan for Westbury. If you’d like to get involved in setting policy to make Westbury a better place to live, please contact the Neighbourhood Planning team on 01373 822 232.”
