A TASK force charged with completing a review of Bookham’s green belt has handed in its vision for the village to Mole Valley District Council (MVDC)

By Jennifer Hardwick jennifer.hardwick@essnmedia.co.uk

BIG HANDOVER: Members of Bookham Vanguard submit their Neighbourhood Development Plan to Mole Valley District Council leader James Friend and executive member for planning Sarah Seed (centre) Photo by Ollie Dixon

Now residents have their chance to tell the authority what they think of it before it is sent to the Government.

Bookham Vanguard, a forum made up of 50 volunteers, has spent nearly four years drawing up a Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP).

If adopted, it will be used by the council to inform all future planning applications in Bookham.

Villagers are now being invited to share their views on the document throughout February and March.

Vanguard member Cathryn Hossack told the Advertiser: “The forum members have put a lot of time and effort into producing a Neighbourhood Development Plan that provides for the type of development that’s needed in Bookham, while still trying to retain the village’s character and semi-rural atmosphere.”

The plan was handed in at the district council’s executive meeting on February 9.

MVDC executive member for planning Cllr Sarah Seed said: “Bookham Vanguard was the first group in Mole Valley to start preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan.

“The council has been working closely with them throughout. It is exciting to have reached this important milestone in preparing planning policies which focus on the needs of a specific local community.”

The council’s public consultation on the draft plan will run for six weeks, before the plan will be independently examined by a Government planning inspector.

If it passes the examination it will be voted on by the whole of the Bookham community in a referendum later his year.

The plan and its supporting documents can be seen at www.molevalley.gov.uk/Bookhamndp. Copies are also available for inspection in Bookham Library, the Leatherhead HelpShop and at the council offices at Pippbrook in Dorking.

Representations on the plan should be submitted by 5pm on March 29 to planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk or by post to The Planning Policy Team, Mole Valley District Council, Pippbrook, Dorking Surrey RH4 1SJ.