Following Burnham and Highbridge Town Council’s recent decision to proceed with a Neighbourhood Plan, the meeting is being held at the Council Chambers in Jaycroft Road at 7pm to plan the next steps.
Town councillors Phil Harvey, Chris Williams and Helen Groves, who have led the project so far, are encouraging local residents to get involved.
He said: “All those people who attended the previous meeting on 27th February – together with those who expressed interest but were unable to attend – have been invited but it is an open meeting and anyone who wishes to attend and find out what it’s all about will be very welcome.”
Cllr Williams added: “We will be able to give feedback on the Town Council’s decision and to look at issues such as a constitution for the eventual steering group and its working relationship with the Town Council, including how the finances are controlled.”
Cllr Groves emphasised the need for public participation in the process at every stage. “It is essential that the whole community is involved so that the plan is truly representative of all sectors – residents, business, employees, young and old. The steering group will ideally contain people of different skills and backgrounds. How we ensure that will be a challenge, as will setting up two-way communication that reaches as many people as possible.”
Cllr Harvey concluded: “Although the steering group will need to be limited to a manageable number, I hope many others will be involved in the process. Groups in other towns that have already produced plans have typically set up sub-groups to consider particular topics. These sub-groups have contained people with particular interest in, or knowledge of, the topic in question. We’d be interested to hear from such people – and to what topic(s) they would like to contribute. We’d also be delighted if someone would volunteer to act as secretary for the meetings!”
