West Berkshire Local Plan survey anonymously emerges on Facebook beginning public engagement
A consultant is gathering people's views on West Berkshire in a bid to better understand what the district needs in the coming 30 years.
Iceni Projects was commissioned by West Berkshire Council to assist in the creation of a vision document for the district's Local Plan and is planning to complete its work by May.
Public engagement is to take place this month as a part of a four-stage process – which began with "gathering information" to a "widespread consultation" before the vision is ultimately written.
On April 11, an anonymous survey titled 'Newbury and Thatcham community members! Shape the future of West Berkshire for 2050' surfaced on the Facebook page ‘Give My View’.
The survey asks users whether they live, work or simply visit the district, what they like about it and what they want to see changed by 2050, among other questions.
Upon completing the survey, it is revealed that it is a part of Iceni’s public engagement in order to better understand the shared view of the area.
It also says the obtained information will support the preparation of the Local Plan Review 2012-2037.
Iceni has planned to have its Draft 2050 Vision completed by early summer and a final vision, also, in early summer.
It is unclear, at this time, what form the engagement will take other than the survey but it is said that a consultation report will be developed based on suggestions from residents, businesses and other stakeholders.
The final vision is to undergo an independent examination from a planning inspector.
Thatcham Town Council, complaining of a lack of engagement from the district authority, has reached out to Iceni Projects to begin direct engagements.
The consultant has also sent an email to the town council, on March 29, detailing its plans to engage with it in relation to public consultations.
It said that in a bid to keep engagements “as convenient as possible”, it had planned to host a series of virtual discussions which were originally planned for early April.
It told the authority: “Wider public engagement will also take place over the coming weeks which we will provide full details for, in case you are able to share with your contacts.
“The findings from the engagement stage of work will be help inform a draft vision document to be produced in May.”
Thatcham Town Council has since drafted a response whereby it offers support to Iceni’s public engagement.
The council said it believes that this process must include a part that is open to all residents rather than a small number of selected people.
This is to take the form of publicity and booking venues for meetings.
The survey can be found at https://www.facebook.com/GiveMyViewTech/posts/1484600518621960 or on the 'Give my View' Facebook page.
It takes less than five minutes and asks very simple questions about users' thoughts and experiences in the district.
