August 2024

5 Buckden Roundabout August 2024 From your District Councillor Dear Residents, Local Plan I am writing this month to encourage your active participation in the consultation regarding the upcoming Local Plan. On Jan- uary 24, 2023, the Huntingdonshire District Council ’ s Cabinet approved the preparation of a comprehensive update to the existing Local Plan, which will outline the district ’ s growth strategy for the coming decades. What is a Local Plan? A Local Plan serves two critical purposes in the district ’ s sustainable development: 1. Identifying Key Development Areas: It designates specific land areas for development, ensuring the provision of neces- sary homes, jobs, and services. 2. Policy Framework: The Local Plan includes policies against which all planning applications are evaluated. The Local Plan is the document by which all development in the district is judged, it provides the basis for what can happen, where it can happen and when it can happen. Why is this important now? As part of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan Refresh, a “ Call for Sites ” was conducted, followed by a “ Strategic Assessment ” of those sites. The next step is the “ Public Consultation - Local Plan Further Issues and Options, ” currently scheduled for September 2024. This consultation provides your initial opportunity to comment on specific sites. Why Early Participation Matters: Once a site becomes part of the Local Plan, influencing its outcome and impact becomes significantly more challenging. Therefore, it is crucial for resi- dents who care about our local environment and infrastructure to actively engage in this consultation process. Experience has shown that most residents become aware of proposed devel- opments only during the later stages of planning, often too late to provide meaningful input. For more information on the Local Plan process and links to the consultation when it opens, visit: www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/planning/local - plan - update Thank you for your support and involvement in shaping our community ’ s future. Shop Front Grant Scheme - District Wide Expansion July 2024 HDC launched the Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme in June last year. Initially covering the town centres of Hunting- don and St Ives, the scheme grew in popularity and was ex- tended to include St Neots and Ramsey town centres earlier this year. The existing scheme closes for applications on 1 Sep- tember to allow for approved schemes to complete in time for the CPCA funding spend deadline of 31 March 2025. As a result of the success of the scheme we have decided to offer a one - off District Wide scheme which will be open for applications between 1 July until 1 September. Independent businesses which fall within the district but out- side of the town centres will be eligible to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to refurbish, renovate and improve their shop fronts. I hope that some of our Buckden shops will be able to take up the offer and contribute to making our local shopping areas more attractive. Full details will be available on the Shop Front Grant webpage from 1 July, including the scheme terms and conditions and the online application form. All applications received will be re- viewed (in order of submission) after the scheme closing date and applicants will be notified of the outcome before the end of September. https://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/people - communities/ market - towns - programme/shop - front - grant - scheme or https://tinyurl.com/ne6fcu6h Wishing you well, Martin Martin Hassall District Councillor for Buckden, Diddington and Southoe Phone: 07480 798 342 Email: martin.hassall@huntingdonshire.gov.uk Buckden Parish Council News continued Council Meetings The Council does not meet during August so the next Council meeting will be at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 10 th September. The meeting will include a 15 - minute open forum. If you want to speak at the meeting, please let us know what you want to say, by contacting the Parish Clerk. You will get a three - minute slot. The Council Planning Committee will also meet if required. Agendas for both meetings are posted on the Parish notice boards no later than the Saturday preceding the meeting. Office opening hours The Clerk operates flexibly between the office and home. If you wish to meet with the Clerk, please call on. 07483 033357. (Continued from page 4)