The Neighbourhood Plan

27th June 2022 | Community

Readers in need of some post Jubilee light exercise, may wish, rather than read or ignore this item, to quietly sing it to the carol melody ‘God rest ye merry, gentlemen….’

Just think back a decade or more – recall getting a thrill?
To infl’ence local planning through a Localism Bill;
It was tidings we`d waited for – not days, months but for years –
It was tidings we had waited for for years.

The year was twenty eleven when it got the rubber stamp
Some villages like Kibworth were there at the starting ramp
With volunteers to get on even whilst the ink was damp
It was tidings we’d waited for – not days, months but for years –
It was tidings we had waited for for years.
Already Kibworth knew the ropes, they’d done a village plan
With questionnaires to every home by foot, bike, car or van;
And also special versions for the schools so children can
It was tidings we’d waited for – not days, months but for years –
It was tidings we had waited for for years.

So with this great ex-per-i-ence, enth-u-si-asm too
A legion full of volunteers asked "What then shall we do?"
Assured of local government funds – don’t worry – they’ll help you;
It was tidings we’d waited for – not days, months but for years –
It was tidings we had waited for for years.

After much meeting, consultation, focus groups and more
The plan was ready – but – hold tight, red tape said there is more
It has to go to referendum – heard it all before! –
It was tidings we’d waited for – not days, months but for years –
It was tidings we had waited for for years.
So January twenty eighteen vote day – nothing less
Than one, one, one, one out of one one nine one votes were YES!!
So job done? Surely so – but no – the plan needed refresh.
It was not what we’d waited for – not days, months but for years –
It was not tidings we’d waited long to hear.
The latest, ‘til June 29th – before this refreshed plan
Goes forward – it’s now out for consultation – so we can
Give our views but what purpose? the examiner could ban
Things we’ve long waited for – not days, not months but for years –
Things we’d waited for – not days, not months, but year .
The Kibworth Review Neighbourhood Plan Stra-te-gic En-vir-o-
-nmental Assessment Screening is the snappy title so –
When all’s revised, accepted, scrutinised and given the go
Might be tidings we did not want but knew that we might hear –
Has the time arrived a new plan to appear?

The above is forwarded against the growing trend (as it appears to me) that rather than those we elect reflecting the views of those who elected them (us), we (the electors) should increasingly adapt our opinions to those we have elected!!

Roger Garratt

Click on the link for more on the Kibworths Neighbourhood Plan