FIRST MEETING FOR YARMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL’S NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN WORKING PARTY

Yarmouth Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Working Party held its first meeting back in March. 10 members of the community listened to a presentation by James Brewer, Isle of Wight Council’s Planning Policy Manager, about what functions a Neighbourhood Plan can provide for the area and how it interacts with national and Island policies. There was a very positive initial discussion under James’ guidance, to better understand what Neighbourhood Plans should cover, as well as what they cannot provide governance for.  The discussion established useful common ground for objectives among the group. This will help create policies for development within the town and parish boundary, for up to the next 15 years. The group will gather evidence about the needs and wants of different sectors of the community in the coming months.  This will include residents young and old, businesses and people from community organisations from within and beyond the Yarmouth and Thorley neighbourhood area. The Working Party welcomes contributions from everyone within the community and would like to encourage all groups who would like their voices heard to contact the Town Clerk to understand how to take part in this once-in-a-generation forum, to ensure Yarmouth continues to develop as a vibrant and sustainable community.