Sandra Weir

Plans for establishing the Great Wymondley Community Orchard are progressing well, and the latest update can be read below.

You will see from this that trees are available for sponsorship, at a cost of £20, which will help maintain the orchard.

If you would like to help with the project and/or sponsor a tree, please contact Cherry or Derek Carter.  (Contact details are included in the update.)

Trees are being allocated on a “first come, first served” basis, and demand is high – so please be aware that the particular variety you’re interested in may no longer be available.

Community Orchard Update January 2020

North Herts District Council’s  Community Safety Team have been involved in producing two one-minute films regarding fly tipping.

Knowing your legal responsibilities when disposing of your waste

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoggqnQiIgg

What to do when you discover a fly tip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBTcp8FrNE

Over 2,000 miles of Hertfordshire’s public countryside footpaths, bridleways and byways are now available on Google maps.

Launched in September, the new tool – believed to be one of the first developed in the country – means the map can be loaded onto a smartphone, making it easier for users to follow their position on the map as they go.

Developed by Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside and Rights of Way staff, along with colleagues in the Web Team, this innovation will make the county’s rights of way much more accessible and help promote them to new digital audiences.

As well as promoting Hertfordshire’s 2,000+ miles of rights of way, the new map supports the goals of the new Local Transport Plan with its emphasis on active travel, and is intended to encourage more people to improve their health and well-being by getting out and active in the countryside.

You can find the map at: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/rowmap

On 26 September 2019, Ian Fullstone (NHDC Service Director – Regulatory) formally took the decision to “make” the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan.  This means it is now part of the statutory development plan for the District, (the Local Plan), and will be a material planning consideration when considering development proposals in the designated neighbourhood planning area of Wymondley.

A big “Thank You”, once again, from the Parish Council to members of its Neighbourhood Planning Committee and everyone who has supported and helped develop the Plan over the last few years.

With great pleasure I announce that the result of yesterday’s Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan Referendum was a YES vote in favour of NHDC using the Wymondley Neighbourhood Plan to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.

The turnout was 28.74% of the 901 electorate.

You should already be aware that a referendum will be held on Thursday 29 August 2019, from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm, to decide on the question:

“Do you want North Hertfordshire District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Wymondley to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood area?”

There are two polling stations in Wymondley Parish:

62  Great Wymondley Village Hall, Great Wymondley [for electors FEEA-1 to FEEA-131]; and

64  Wymondley JMI School, Siccut Road, Little Wymondley [for electors FEEB-1 to FEEB-670 and FEEC-1 to FEEC-118].

The Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations gives more information. Notice Of Poll

Following its approval by Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) on 22 May 2019, SBC has adopted the Stevenage Borough Local Plan 2011-2031 as a local development document.

This replaces the District Plan (Second Review) 2004, which has now been withdrawn.

The adoption statement can be found here: https://stevenage-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/ppolicy/cil/stevenage_borough_local_plan_2011_-_2031_adoption

The following documents have been made available:

• The Stevenage Borough Local Plan 2011-2031
• The Adoption Statement
• The Sustainability Appraisal Report and its accompanying adoption statement

These documents can be viewed on the SBC website at: http://www.stevenage.gov.uk/149690/planning-policy/90175/ and are available for inspection (free of charge) during normal opening hours at the following locations:

• Stevenage Borough Council Offices, Danestrete
• Stevenage Central Library, Southgate
• Old Town Library, 38 High Street

For further information please contact the SBC Planning Policy Team on 01438 242823 or by email at: planningpolicy@stevenage.gov.uk.

As part of the NHDC Local Plan Examination, the Inspector recommended “main modifications” to make the Local Plan sound and legally compliant. “Main modifications” are changes that materially affect the policies – and the legal provisions for this stage of plan preparation are contained in section 20(7c) of the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (as amended).

NHDC is required to consult on all proposed modifications, depending on the scope of the modifications, and the Inspector’s report can only be issued afterwards.

NHDC’s consultation on the main modifications to its Local Plan was approved by the NHDC Cabinet on 10 December 2018; and the consultation has recently been extended to run from Thursday 3 January 2019 to Monday 4 March 2019.

Alongside this, people can also comment on the additional documents produced by NHDC during the Examination.

The consultation will be advertised in local media outlets and social media; and a poster will be sent to all libraries in the District, as well as Stevenage and Luton Central Libraries.

Information will be available via www.north-herts.gov.uk/localplan and localplans@north-herts.gov.uk

The Parish Council and its Neighbourhood Planning Committee will be considering and responding to the consultation, but encourages you to take the opportunity to respond individually – particularly with regard to the proposals for building on Green Belt land in and near the Parish; and on related issues and policies relating to traffic and flood management and air quality.