On 7 September Pontesbury Parish Neighbourhood Plan was approved by the Referendum Vote in which over 85% of the 491 voters supported the Plan. Following the declaration of the result the Plan is now in operation.  This means that when future planning applications for development in Pontesbury Parish are decided, the Plan policies will be taken into account. Given that the finished Plan was based on extensive consultations with hundreds of local people, it means that the Pontesbury parish community will have a greater say than ever before, in shaping and helping to decide future development. Change is inevitable, but  the core purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan is to ensure any development fits in with the character of our parish.

So far, only a handful of  Shropshire's parishes have a completed  Neighbourhood Plan.  The Pontesbury Parish Neighbourhood Plan will sit alongside Shropshire's Local Plan which is the most important material planning concern for deciding planning applications for future development. This means that residents should consult the Plan when submitting planning applications or when commenting on other applications in our parish.

The Plan has already been drawn upon to influence design in forthcoming applications and the adoption of the Plan means that our parish will gain a considerable increase in CIL money to spend on improving infrastructure. 

Whilst some voters  were concerned with some aspects or omissions in the Plan, it should be borne in mind that no policies could be included which duplicated Shropshire Local Plan and some much desired local changes do not come within the remit of Neighbourhood Plans.

The Steering Group thanks the many hundreds of respondents who have helped to shape the Plan and who took the time to vote.

Supply and Installation of LED street lanterns

Pontesbury Parish Council

Pontesbury Parish Council is inviting tenders for the supply and installation of 66 LED lanterns to complete the conversion of the village to LED street lighting.  Applications should be submitted via email to Gillian Bailey gbailey.locum@gmail.com.  See link below for tender documents.

Procurement reference PPC LED

Procurement stage Opportunity

Closing 18 September 2023, 5pm

Date notice published 8 August 2023, 5:28pm

A Referendum relating to the adoption of the Pontesbury Neighbourhood Plan will be held on Thursday 7 September 2023.

The question which will be asked in the Referendum is:
“Do you want Shropshire Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Pontesbury to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

The Referendum area is identified on the map - (please scroll down to the link below).

The Referendum area is identical to the area which has been designated as the Pontesbury neighbourhood area.

A person is entitled to vote in the Referendum if on Monday 21 August 2023:
• he or she is entitled to vote in a local government election in the Referendum area; and
• his or her qualifying address for the election is in the Referendum area. A persons qualifying address is, in relation to a person registered in the register of electors, the address in respect of which he or she is entitled to be registered.

The Referendum expenses limit that will apply in relation to the Referendum is
£2,519.00. The number of persons entitled to vote in the Referendum, by reference to which that limit has been calculated, is 2,661.

The Referendum will be conducted in accordance with procedures which are similar to those used at local government elections.

A copy of the specified documents, that is those documents listed below, may be
inspected online -  Pontesbury Neighbourhood Plan | Shropshire Council

Paper copies of the specified documents are also available to view at:
• Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND
Monday – Friday during office hours
• Pontesbury Library, The Pavillion, Hall Bank, Pontesbury SY5 0RF
Opening times –
Mon 10am -1pm, Tues 10am – 5pm, Thurs 2pm – 5pm and Sat 10am -1pm

The specified documents are:
• The Pontesbury Neighbourhood Development Plan;
• The report of the independent examiner into the Neighbourhood Plan;
• A summary of the representations submitted to the independent examiner;
• A statement by the local planning authority that the draft Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions specified by statute and complies with the provision made by or under Section 38A and 38B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;
• A statement that sets out general information about town and country planning including neighbourhood planning and the referendum.

Dated: Friday 28 July 2023

Andy Begley
Chief Executive
Shropshire Council
Shirehall
Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
SY2 6ND