THE eagerly awaited draft neighbourhood plan for Bradford on Avon was released this week, giving residents the opportunity to air their views on the town’s developments.

After three years of consultation by the neighbourhood plan working group, the draft was made available to the public on Wednesday and focuses on the future of the town up to 2026.

Other than the approved scheme for building 138 houses in Kingston Farm and Spitfire Homes’ proposed development plans for 60 houses, no other large-scale developments have been approved as part of Wiltshire Council Core Strategy (WCS).

The draft’s objectives involve providing sustainable development in the town, ensuring the town has a viable economic future, to protect and improve community facilities, minimise traffic and improve provision for pedestrians, protect rural settings and the green belts and concentrate on the provision of housing for local needs.

“It has been a lengthy, three-year process and a steep learning curve for a lot of us. We are nearly there thank goodness,” said Councillor Gwen Allison, who will be one of the people available to question about this in the town library from May 16-27 from 12-2pm.

“There have been a lot of obstacles but in the end we are quite happy with it and hopefully the residents will vote for it. It was very important to get people from all across the town as it is for them.

“There are also areas of opportunity for development such as the plans for a sports hub on the green belt land of Beehive Field. But at present that is just an idea. There is nothing concrete but if they can get a planning application, talks can happen.”

Based on the vision for the town, topic groups made up of residents, business owners, architects, planners and councillors were set up to examine climate change, community wellbeing, conservation and design, economy and enterprise, transport and movement, housing for all and green spaces.

Planning advisor Colin Johns said: “If you take a town like this, then clearly conserving its history and architecture is important but the thrust of this is to try and gain more employment and activity here.

“When Avon closed 20-odd years ago, decline followed and now we want more jobs back, to have more activity and stimulate the economy.”

After the public’s comments are submitted, the neighbourhood plan sends it to the Wiltshire Council, followed by an inspector’s independent check, then to a referendum before finally seeing if it is approved by the planning authority.

“Everyone has a say. We want their voices to be heard and create a positive legacy. This is not cast in stone, people can make their case if they have concerns,” added Mr Johns.

The town’s area board meets next Wednesday at St Margaret’s from 7pm to talk about the neighbourhood plan.

Members of the public can see the draft here http://bit.ly/1rnfTSL and the survey here http://bit.ly/1TKEjiA which is available until 5pm on June 17.