Ottery and West Hill Neighbourhood Plan moves another step towards completion

Ottery and West Hill’s Neighbourhood Plan will take another step forward towards completion as it heads back before district council in May.

The document was submitted to a planning inspector at the end of last year for examination and will go before East Devon District Council on Wednesday, May 2 to approve the inspector’s recommendations.

The joint Neighbourhood Plan focused on the areas such as economy, housing, traffic calming measures and celebrating heritage.

The proposals have been more than two years in the making and will form a blueprint to influence future development in the parishes.

If passed, a public referendum will then be held and voted on by residents.

Jo Talbot, chairman of the working group, says the plan will give the parishes power from ‘unwanted over development’.

Mrs Talbot said: “It has been submitted to the examiner and her response has been very positive.

“There are a few minor modifications – none of which are drastic.”

The chairman added her hopes the plan would be in place by late June or early July and that it was important residents voted in the referendum when it took place.

She said: “The examiner clearly realised that we had had a lot of development and the residents were concerned about it.

“It [the plan] will then hold full weight and give Ottery St Mary and West Hill a lot more protection from unwanted over development.

“It has been a long hard slog and there were setbacks.

“But thanks to the dedicated help of members of the group the end is in sight.”