The Pre-Submission Local Plan has recently been published; all 966 pages of it. The Plan can be accessed on R.C.C. website and can be downloaded in bite size chunks in pdf. form. Alternatively this link will download the full document: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h6261gs6vegly4g/Public%20reports%20pack%2016012020%201900%20Growth%20Infrastructure%20and%20Resources%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?dl=0

On Thursday 16th January there will be a Scrutiny Panel Meeting on the Plan at R.C.C 7.0 pm. A member of North Luffenham Parish Council will be making deputation.

There are Council Meetings on the 20th January to approve or not the Housing Infrastructure Fund bid and on the 27th January to approve the Pre-Submission Local Plan. Both meetings are at R.C.C. at 7.0 pm and are public meetings. Deputations and questions can be asked at these meeting but must be submitted beforehand. For information on how to do this please follow this link: governance@rutland.gov.uk

Decisions on the proposed development of St. George’s Barracks are coming to a head and it is possibly the last chance for parishioners to influence the outcome. Please either attend the meetings and/or email our local MP with your views. alicia.kearns.mp@parliament.uk

Following the public meeting on the 9th December the Parish Council formerly approved, on the 6th January, to proceed with a Neighbourhood Plan a meeting will be held on the 13th January at 7.00 pm in the Community Centre with the aim of forming a Steering Group.

If you were not able to attend the initial meeting, think you may have skills to offer, or simply want to know more than you are welcome to attend.

It would be helpful if as many villagers as possible could attend the following meetings at R.C.C. (Council Offices:  Catmose House, Catmose Street, Oakham LE15 6HP).

On Thursday 19th December at 7.00 pm there will be a Public Scrutiny Meeting and the aim of the meeting is to question council officials on the agenda for the meeting of the Cabinet on Monday 23rd December at 6.00 pm at which the Cabinet will discuss and decide what to present to the Councillors for their decision early in the New Year. This basically will be future development in the county and will largely be focused on St. George’s Barracks (SGB). At both meetings the following will be discussed:

The terms and conditions of the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF). The Spatial Strategy of Rutland (a decision as to how St. George’s Barracks fits into the Local Plan). St. George’s Barracks versus development at Woolfox. Other issues are viability, sustainability, transport, environment and cost assessments.

Local parish councillors will be making the views of residents known in deputations but unfortunately the public is not allowed to speak unless questions/deputations have been submitted beforehand. However a good turnout will give a sense of the feeling towards the development and help residents understand the effects that the St. George’s Barracks development will have on our communities and the county.

So please do come along if you can.

Please find attached the meeting dates for North Luffenham Parish Council and also the meeting of the Oval Recreation Ground and Field Gardens Trust of which the Parish Council is the sole trustee.

Please find attached notice of an emergency road closure, Moor Lane, which I have just received.

Digby farm have been growing Christmas trees for over 30 years, and offer a range of trees including spruce pine and fir in a range of heights. There is also a Christmas shop full of decorations, tree stands, and gifts and crafts.

All the trees are on display so you can inspect each one and choose your preferred shape and size. Once you have chosen your tree, one of the helpful staff will give you a ticket, and then take the tree away to be netted, while you browse the Christmas Shop for decorations.

Open daily from 10.00 am to 5:30pm (4pm Sunday), and located here

Neighbourhood Plan for North Luffenham

Community Centre on 9th December at 7.0 pm.

A big thank you on behalf of the village to Cllr Geoff Mason who recently volunteered his time and ingenuity to improve the weatherproofing of our village defibrillator. The defibrillator has been out of action on more than one occasion due to water ingress, and the addition of the black metal hood will improve the availability of this emergency life saving equipment in the future.

“Due to water ingress into the cabinet of the defibrillator it has been out of action on two occasions but thanks to Councillor Mason, who devised and constructed a cover for the cabinet, the problem has been resolved.”

Cllr Tim Smith – Parish Council Chairman

You can read more about how the village defibrillator works here.

Neighbourhood Plan for North Luffenham

Taking control of planning in the village

How would you like the Parish of North Luffenham to look in 10 to 20 years time? The Village Survey of 2017 indicated that the general environment and proximity to the countryside were very important and being part of a community as important to the residents of North Luffenham

The proposed development of St. George’s Barracks, with a new town bigger than Uppingham, is a threat to the environment of North Luffenham in terms of visual impact and increased traffic. The local parish councils are striving to reduce the numbers of houses in the development, but it is likely that there will be some utilisation of the former airfield.

A Neighbourhood Plan enables local communities to control the planning of the area in which they live and work. It can be used to:

• Develop a shared vision for your neighbourhood.
• Choose where new homes and other development should be built.
• Identify and protect important local green spaces.
• Influence what new buildings should look like.

It is essentially a planning document for the whole of the parish, and as such can influence any development on St. George’s within the parish boundary.(p.t.o.)

Only a Parish Council can initiate a Neighbourhood Plan, but it can only be successfully impact the St Georges development with the support of the village and the Parish Council wants your help and enthusiasm to see it through.

There will be a presentation  at the Community Centre on 9th December at 7.0 pm.

The parish council feel it is important to the future of the village so please, if you are able, try and attend either just to know more or would like to be involved in some way.

All welcome; please do come.