Document open to public consultation for six weeks

The Neighbourhood Plan for St Annes, produced by St Annes Town Council after an extensive consultation exercise, has been submitted a Fylde Council for consideration before its contents are put forward for a public referendum.

It will be available to view at the Fylde Public Offices as well as online from today until March 24.

The plan will determine where homes can be built and which parts of the borough must be kept as open green space.

After the latest consultation, an examiner will be appointed to review and validate the Plan.

St Annes Town Clerk Sally Taylor said “This has been the biggest project that the Town Council has ever undertaken, but is so important to the people of St Annes.

“We are now coming near to the Plan going to referendum, when the people of the town vote on the Plan.

“Once in place the Plan will allow our community to influence the planning of St Annes.”

Coun Tony Ford, chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, said: “All of these comments and hundreds more were fed into the Plan and assisted in developing the policies. The Plan cannot stop development, but it can determine where houses are built.

“The Plan is ambitious and includes a town design guide, working to ensure a high quality of design that is sympathetic to the character of St Annes.

“The clear message we received is that they want to protect the town’s parks and open spaces.

“People asked for more affordable homes of a type and design that meet the needs of the town and again this is addressed in our Plan.

“We are passionate about St Annes and want the Plan to ensure the town can build on its legacy and become a balanced, healthy and vibrant community for future generations.”

Details at www.fylde.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplanning/