Get involved with the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan!

The Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan consultation is now live and the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan group supported by the Dorset Coast Forum are organising public consultation events around the town as well as encouraging everyone to complete an online survey. Through community engagement the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan group identified five themes that the Weymouth community have said are important to them – homes, jobs, communities, landscape and green spaces and sustainable environments.

Whether you are an individual, resident or business this is your chance to let Weymouth Town Council know what you think. The five themed surveys are open now and will run until midnight Sunday 31 July, please make sure you respond before this period closes. Our neighbourhood plan will apply to the wider Weymouth area, not just the town centre with the designated boundary agreed in July 2020.

A neighbourhood plan sets out the policies that are used to help make decisions about planning applications in the area including identifying open spaces that residents would like to protect from development. It is led by the local community and gives everyone an opportunity to have a say and help shape future development, influence the well-being, sustainability, and long-term preservation of the community.

Weymouth Town Council Cllr David Northam, Vice Chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, said: “Please help shape the future of our town over the next 15 to 20 years. I urge you to come along to one of the upcoming community events where you can have your say on Weymouth’s Neighbourhood Plan. This is a plan for all of us in Weymouth and is designed to help our communities, including residents and businesses, to have a say in Weymouth’s future. So do come along, find out more about the plan and take the survey so that we can capture your valuable input.”

Dorset Coast Forum Project Officer Sara Parker highlights the importance of everyone getting involved: “As a resident of Weymouth myself, I would encourage everyone to tell us what they value most about Weymouth by completing the surveys either online, through their local library or community centre by accessing the Dorset Digital Champions network or by attending one of our local drop-in events in person where my colleague Nikki and I will be available to answer questions and capture your views”.

Community drop-in events will be held at:
• Weymouth Information Shop, St. Mary Street 10am-2pm on Thursday 16 June
• Park Community Centre, Chelmsford Street 4-6.45pm on Tuesday 21 June
• St. Francis Church, Littlemoor 4-7pm on Wednesday 29 June
• St. Paul’s Community Centre, Westham 4-7pm on Friday 8 July.

You can complete the online survey by going to www.dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk and to find out more detail about the neighbourhood plan including the boundary area please go to www.weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan or email us at neighbourhood@weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk