St Mary Bourne Neighbourhood Plan

The next step will be for the plan to be formally adopted at the full council meeting of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on 22 March.

Andrew Shegog, chairman of the Long-Term Planning Group set up by St Mary Bourne Parish Council in September 2011, said, “After a great deal of consultation with the community in St Mary Bourne parish, research and input from many people in our villages, it’s a very good result to have such a clear majority in favour of the new Neighbourhood Plan.

“Many, many people have worked on the project, contributed their views and we believe that the resulting plan will give those who live in the parish the chance to control and influence future developments in the area covered by the plan.

“Thanks go to all those involved for their hard work and to the parish’s inhabitants for their engagement and patience over what has been a long process.”

Councillor Graham Falconer who represents the parish on the Burghclere, Highclere and St Mary Bourne ward of the borough council also commented, “I am absolutely delighted that St Mary Bourne has achieved a successful Neighbourhood Plan to guide the future of their parish in terms of development and amenities.

“Sincere congratulations to the Long-Term Planning Group who have spent six years of endeavour to achieve this.

“St Mary Bourne was one of the first to take this on and they have had to plough the furrow. Other communities can now benefit from their hard work and experience.”

The St Mary Bourne Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/SMBNP or in the Parish Office, St Mary Bourne Village Centre SP11 6BE.

Ruth Widén