A Happy New Year to all our subscribers!
Have your say on new design codes
Residents are urged to have their say on a set of documents that will set new standards for future development to ensure they are high quality and beautifully designed.
Wychavon has worked with design consultancy Create Streets to produce four new design codes for the district, which act like a recipe for a place.
They contain a set of requirements covering everything from the natural environment and buildings to roads and street lighting. The codes can be used to direct the look and feel of a development and how it should interact with the surrounding area.
The codes have been produced based on feedback from residents during previous consultations about the types of design they support and want to see more of in the place where they live. Workshops have also been held with developers and architects highlighting the importance of the codes and how they will reduce design uncertainty when preparing planning applications.
A four-week public consultation has now been launched to allow residents to have their say on the draft codes. The consultation runs until 11.59 pm on 5 February and people can view the codes and take part by visiting www.wychavon.gov.uk/design-codes and filling in the online form. Paper copies of the codes and consultation forms will also be available from public libraries.
Once the consultation closes, the documents will be updated and put before councillors to be formally adopted. They will then be used when assessing and deciding on planning applications.
Cllr Emma Kearsey, Executive Board Member for Planning and Infrastructure on Wychavon District Council, said: “I am delighted this proactive work, originally commissioned by Cllr Bradley Thomas, is now coming back to you our residents to check it’s what you told us you want in terms of design for the place where you live.
“These are codes, not guides, and following consultation, we will use them to ensure we demand leading, high-quality design across all development that protects and enhances the character of our beautiful district.”
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England asks for your views on proposed new electoral arrangements for Worcestershire.
• Do the proposed divisions reflect local communities?
• How do you think the proposals can be improved?
• Are the names of the proposed divisions right?
The consultation closes on the 18th March 2024
Have your say:
Worcestershire Electoral Review
reviews@lgbce.org.uk
https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/worcestershire
Review Officer (Worcestershire),
LGBCE, PO Box 133, Blyth, NE24 9FE
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) would like to let you know that the Service have launched a public consultation exercise on the Service’s Resource Review proposals.
The Service would like to encourage individuals and organisations to share their views on the proposals which we have set out in a Resource Review Consultation Document along with an accompanying Data Pack and a short questionnaire. The consultation closes on 4th March 2024 and results and recommendations will be reported to the Fire Authority in June later this year.
The Resource Review examines the arrangement of operational response resources and considers how this can be improved. This Resource Review aims to ensure that HWFRS is making the best use of its available resources, and funding, and to assure the Fire Authority, stakeholders and the community that it is providing the most effective service possible across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Please note there is no proposal to close any of the Services 25 fire stations or reduce the crewing or emergency cover of the first fire engine, at any of the 25 locations. The introduction of the proposals in this Review would provide a more effective and efficient use of its resources and all the resources realised as part of the proposals will be reinvested in front-line fire engine staff.
You can read more about the proposals in the Resource Review Consultation Document which is available on the Service website. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) document will also be available through the website.
To help gather views, we have engaged an independent research company, Opinion Research Services (ORS) to carry out the consultation for us. They have prepared a separate online questionnaire document, which should only take about 10 minutes to complete. You can access the questionnaire here.
During the consultation, ORS will also meet with a cross-section of residents and stakeholders to discuss the proposals in more detail.
We’d like to encourage your organisation to consider the proposals and respond to the consultation. Please feel free to share the consultation with your wider community to help ensure we get a good cross-section of views to consider.
If you have any questions, would like any further information or to arrange some time to discuss in more detail, please contact us directly using our consultation@hwfire.org.uk email address.