A survey was sent to local residents last year inviting them to have their say on what Wilmslow will look like in 15 years time as part of of the process to create a Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan, which will influence the future development of the town.
Residents, businesses, employees and community groups were asked to express their views on the things they think are most important to the town including housing, employment, transport, the town centre, leisure, health, education and the natural environment. They were also invited to tell the Neighbourhood Planning Group what they like about Wilmslow, what they dislike and what they think needs improving.
12,000 questionnaires were distributed to the homes across Wilmslow and 1200 responses were received. The responses generated 8000 lines of comments which have been analysed by the group and split into the following categories: community, education, employment, health service, housing, leisure, natural environment, town centre and transport.
Brian Donohue, Chairman of the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Planning Group attended the Wilmslow Town Council meeting on Monday, 20th March, to provide members with an update.
In addition to the analysis carried out by the Neighbourhood Planning Group themselves, they have engaged Manchester University's Planning Department and Dr Anna Gilchrist is in the process of finishing her independent analysis - which she is completing free of charge in return for being able to use the information anonymously in her academic work.
The Neighbourhood Planning Group have now been split into 4 working groups, each of which has 4 to 6 members, who are now looking to develop objectives and policies under the headings of housing, environment, town centre and infrastructure.
They have also appointed a small planning consultancy who have worked on a number of neighbourhood plans in different areas. They are providing guidance to get the policies written and a draft plan together.
Brian Donohue, Chairman of the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Planning Group said "In terms of looking ahead we are working on policies, we are working on drafts at the moment and we are hoping to get these in place by mid-May. Once we have got those draft policies in place we are then looking at a second period of consultation - in terms of presentations to groups, going out having meetings, getting on the market, getting to the Wilmslow Show. Any which way that we may think is usual in getting to the residents of Wilmslow with the particular policies in draft form to get the opinions back so that we can then take those opinions and amend whatever it is we have produced so far."
"I am hoping that we can these policy amendments and a draft plan written by the end of Autumn this year, maybe a bit ambitious but that's what I am hoping for. Once we have got that draft plan written that then has to go into another period of formal consultation and this is a six-week period of consultation. So if we can get the draft plan with the amended policies in place by the end of October then there is a six week formal consultation of the general public and then again we have to take into account what has been said during that formal consultation and make amends of the plan."
They are also engaged with the Manchester Metropolitan School of Architecture who have done some work with towns that are producing Neighbourhood Plans.
Brian Donohue added "We have got knowledge of the work they have produced in Bollington and the work they have produced has been quite impressive. We're hoping when we have got some of the draft policies out of the way they will pick up and work with with us as a project at the university, a year's work by a group of 5th year architectural students who will look at certain aspects of Wilmslow."
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