Blacon Residents Urged to Participate in Crucial Community Planning Survey

The Blacon Neighbourhood Alliance Neighbourhood Forum is calling on all Blacon residents to participate in a vital survey that will shape the future of their community through the development of the Blacon Neighbourhood Plan.

The survey has been produced by local residents volunteering for the Blacon Neighbourhood Plan working group and reflects feedback from public meetings and previous community surveys. The Neighbourhood Plan will be a key document in guiding Blacon’s future growth and preservation.

Blacon Neighbourhood Alliance Neighbourhood Forum has been designated by Cheshire West & Chester Council (CWaC) to produce the Blacon Neighbourhood Plan. The Blacon Neighbourhood Plan working group is managing this initiative on a daily basis.

A Neighbourhood Plan is a community-led legal document that decides the extent, type, location and design of future development while protecting important areas. If adopted through a local referendum, it will be used by Cheshire West & Chester Council to make planning decisions in Blacon, alongside the Borough-wide Local Plan and National Planning Policy.

In brief, the Blacon Neighbourhood Plan’s goal is to:

• Protect and enhance green spaces, ensuring they are preserved for community enjoyment by designating them as Local Green Space.
• Encourage continued investment in The Parade and Western Avenue shops to support local shopping needs.
• Safeguard existing community buildings, such as schools, churches and sports facilities, from being repurposed.
• Help get planning permission for a new community hub/centre and indoor sports facility through community-led planning mechanisms.

Laura Smith, secretary of the Blacon Neighbourhood Alliance Neighbourhood Forum, said:

“This is your chance to directly influence planning decisions that affect our community. We need as many residents as possible to participate in the survey to ensure the Blacon Neighbourhood Plan accurately reflects the community's needs and priorities.”

John Heselwood, Deputy Chief Executive of experienced local charity Cheshire Community Action, said:

“This survey is being conducted independently by Cheshire Community Action and funded by a government grant. Your confidential feedback will directly impact future planning decisions, so we’re asking Blacon residents to take a few minutes to complete the survey and help shape the future of Blacon.”

The closing date to submit the survey is Wednesday 31 July.

For more information and to access the survey, visit: 

www.surveymonkey.com/r/BlaconSurvey 

...or email: 

blaconneighbourhoodplan@gmail.com

About the Blacon Neighbourhood Alliance Neighbourhood Forum

The Blacon Neighbourhood Alliance Neighbourhood Forum is the accountable body for producing the Blacon Neighbourhood Plan, designated by Cheshire West & Chester Council in August 2023.

About Cheshire Community Action

Established in 1930, Cheshire Community Action (CCA) is a registered charity working through Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington. Originally founded to support rural communities, in recent years the organisation has branched out to provide services in larger towns and suburbs.

CCA is an independent organisation and a member of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). Its mission is to give Cheshire communities a stronger voice through engagement and supporting them to influence the places, spaces and services that are important to them.

Pictured - Local residents promoting the Blacon Neighbourhood Plan Survey at the Blacon Festival.