Another Minerals Plan

Even before the latest Minerals Plan was adopted by Nottinghamshire County Council in December 2005, work had started on yet another Minerals Plan. This time it combines the County’s Waste and Minerals Plans. To confuse us, it is not called a Plan now. Instead it is called “Nottinghamshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework." The first stage of the Framework is the creation of a “Statement of Community Involvement”. This began in February 2005, apparently, although we knew nothing about it until a chance observation in October 2005. Neither did Bulcote Conservation Trust or Gunthorpe Environmental and Flood Alleviation Group. This lack of communication with three community groups that had been continually in contact with the Environment Department since 2002 did not give us much confidence in the County Council’s ability to “consult the community”. BJRA has now made sure that our name is on the list of community groups being consulted and has responded to the second consultation document that emerged in November 2005. The third public consultation document is entitled “Statement of Community Involvement – Submission Draft, May 2006”. This is an important document as it sets out the terms on which the public will be consulted on Minerals and Waste Plans and planning applications for minerals extraction, waste disposal, schools, roads and other matters in the hands of the County Council in the future. The consultation document is now in the library. Anyone can submit comments on the document and suggest changes. BJRA will be submitting comments and welcomes views of members on the document by 21 July. (To Julie, please) The closing date for comments is 28 July 2006.