The first formal stage in preparing a neighbourhood plan is to designate the neighbourhood area. The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 specify that in order to prepare a neighbourhood plan, the ‘qualifying body’ (usually the town or parish council) has to notify the council of its intentions to designate a neighbourhood area, state its reasons and submit a map of the proposed area.
Puriton Parish Council applied to Sedgemoor District Council to have the parish designated a Neighbourhood Area and on 2nd February 2017 Sedgemoor DC approved the designation. The the Parish Council and residents can now work together to produce a vision for the parish.
UPDATE – The Neighbourhood Planning session held on 25/02/17 was a resounding success in that approx. 85 residents joined the Parish Council at the village hall to discuss the prospect of creating a Plan for the parish. A paper ballot was held and of those 68 who voted ALL voted that Puriton should have a neighbourhood plan. 13 residents signed up to say they would be willing to form/ work with a steering group in order to take forward the process.