'Community pride must be reflected in planning'

HERE we live, whether there are enough school places for our children, if GP surgeries and NHS services can meet local demand, how we improve transport connectivity across the community and how we protect the green spaces that make Newcastle-under-Lyme special - all of these things are shaped, in part, by the Local Plan.

- Adam Jogee - MP for Newcastle

This year, Newcastle Borough Council submitted its draft Local Plan for examination.

The plan decides where new homes will go and what infrastructure must accompany that growth; directly setting expectations for school places, doctors’ surgeries, roads, and public transport.

In short, the Local Plan is about ensuring our community grows in a way that works for our people now - and for generations to come. That is why the Planning Inspector's recent hearing conclusions are so important.

She has been clear: the Local Plan as submitted is not sound and cannot be adopted in its current form.

Significant changes will be needed before it can go forward - and many of the concerns she has raised are the very same issues I set out in my formal response on behalf of residents, and which local Labour councillors have consistently highlighted.