When residents of Pinhoe reached out for help to protect Higher Field and all the amazing wildlife living there, we found connection with people across the city who understand and share the alarm we feel. We joined forces, signing the petition to protect green fields and the green skyline which circles our beautiful city and shapes our sense of how we feel about where we live. Thank you to every single one of you who made the effort to sign the petition. It worked. The field is saved – for now.
Pinhoe is not the model for development. It’s the warning
After presenting our proposal to the Scrutiny Committee, councillors from across the political divide asked us to find a way for everyone who signed the petition to share their views on the Local Plan.
After months of work researching the petition, discussing and developing workable ideas, presenting the proposal for a Ridgeline Park across the Northern Hills and ensuring it relates to and connects with local and national policies, organisations and opportunities, a small group of us sat down to examine the Local Plan.
The challenge
This new Local Plan is a complex connection of documents, often using specialist language relating to many different fields of expertise. It sets out planning priorities, development values, a vision for the city based on its growth, and an ambition for Exeter to be a “global leader in addressing social, economic and environmental challenges of climate change and urbanisation”.
This is a plan which sets the Council’s values for the next TWENTY YEARS. It will be referenced in EVERY planning application and EVERY application for funding. Every time there’s a need for a road or a school, jobs or health services, whether it’s community services for young people or active travel routes, whether it’s public green spaces or private land, THIS LOCAL PLAN WILL LEAD THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Are you ready?
All this boils down to FIVE QUESTIONS presented in a survey as the consultation with every resident in Exeter.
Each question has a box with up to 5000 characters (approx 850 words) for you to fill in. No wonder people have been asking for help!
When we vote in national and local elections the process is clear, whether or not the politics are. Please don’t let this extraordinarily influential document pass you by without having a say
What next >
Working with local organisations and planning experts, gathering views from local residents across Pinhoe and the city of Exeter, we’ve written some points to highlight key strategic statements.
There are 5 main questions, so you’ll find 5 blog posts with information on some of the main points.
Each question is broken into points with statements and recommendations. If you agree with any or all of the points, you can cut and paste into the survey boxes found here: https://wh.snapsurveys.com/siam/surveylanding/interviewer.asp
We’ve worked hard to stick to national and international guidelines and connect to evidence relating to community concerns. We have no political affiliation. If you have any comments or would like to contribute, please get in touch: mail@portfoliofive.co.uk
PLEASE PLAY YOUR PART!
There are questions about Exeter City Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which is required by law, out of date and cannot be considered a functioning basis for connecting or consulting with communities. The consultation process for this Local Plan provides overwhelming evidence of the need for a complete rethink.
Whether we like the process or not, whether it’s fit-for-purpose or whether it’s crying out for new thinking, the deadline for you to submit your views is MONDAY 15th NOVEMBER at 5pm. PLEASE PLAY YOUR PART IN LOCAL DEMOCRACY