R4U delighted that Newport, Quendon & Ricking Neighbourhood Plan enters Pre-Submission Public Consultation

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Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) has said it is delighted that the Newport, Quendon & Ricking Neighbourhood Plan has entered the Pre-Submission Public Consultation phase and is available for public comment until 15th June 2018.

The Draft Newport, Quendon & Rickling Neighbourhood Plan has been developed by a residents’ Steering Group and led by R4U District Councillors Anthony Gerard and Neil Hargreaves, and made up of residents and parish councillors from both villages.

Anthony Gerard (R4U) Anthony Gerard (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Anthony Gerard said “The Newport, Quendon & Rickling Neighbourhood Plan includes a set of policies to guide development within our villages until 2033. It says that development must be sustainable and meet the needs of local residents. Development should not distort the shape and essence of our villages as they evolve, but they must remain as villages – not towns. The Plan also says that building should happen on brownfield sites before countryside. And it requires developers to pay their fair share towards the infrastructure we need, such as roads, healthcare, sports and community facilities. It also says that new homes cannot be sold if there are no local school places.  There are also policies to address traffic pollution, which must be kept below legally safe limits. Neighbourhood Plans are important because they provide legally binding policies that can be used to decide which planning applications are fit for purpose in our villages.”


NQR Neighbourhood Plan Team L-R: Judy Emanuel, Chris Murphy, Howard Bowman, Anthony Gerard, Neil Hargreaves, David Mayle, Brandon Chapman, Tracey Hepting, Mike Hannant (Not present) web

Neil Hargreaves (R4U) Neil Hargreaves (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Neil Hargreaves, who also led the team, said “This is a residents Plan. Whilst we led the work for our villages, it is the result of a lot of hard work by local resident volunteers and the parish councils, and with help from UDC staff. We are delighted that it has reached the important pre-submission public consultation, and strongly recommend that businesses, community groups and residents respond before 15th June. All comments received will be carefully considered and the Plan adjusted as necessary before formal submission to Uttlesford District Council who will run the local referendum to adopt the plan. Please visit www.nqrplan.org to read the Plan and find out how to comment, or attend our roadshows from 3-8pm at Newport Church House on Tuesday 22nd May and again at Quendon Village Hall on Tuesday 29th.”

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About Residents for Uttlesford

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. Formed in 2014 by a number of residents’ groups, the party believes that on local issues residents should decide, not Westminster parties.

R4U is the fastest growing local political movement in its district. In 2015 it became the second party at Uttlesford District Council (UDC). In 2017 it achieved a further by-election gain with 60% of the vote. In the May 2019 Local Elections R4U gained majority control of UDC winning two-thirds of the seats. The result delivered the biggest loss of seats by any UK Conservative controlled council in the UK in those elections.

R4U’s success has been based on the desire to give local people a voice and implement long range strategic and sustainable plans for their area.

R4U is also the majority party at Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards. It is a minority party on Great Dunmow Town Council.

Residents for Uttlesford can be found on the web at www.residents4u.org.

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