RESIDENTS in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge are being urged to have their say on the new Neighbourhood Plan. 

The plan was presented at Burnham and Highbridge Town Council's town council meeting on March 5 by Cllr Phil Harvey and shows plans for Burnham town centre and esplanade, the redevelopment of Highbridge town centre and housing in the area. 

The introduction to the plan states: "The purpose of the Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge Neighbourhood Development Plan is to guide and shape development in the two towns.

"It has been produced in response to the Localism Act, which came into force in April 2012 setting out the Government’s new approach to planning and giving local people more say in what happens in their area.

"The Neighbourhood Plan is based on robust evidence from a variety of sources.

"The process of producing the Neighbourhood Plan began when the District Council successfully applied for the Town Council to be a Neighbourhood Planning Front Runner.

"The town council supported this in September 2011.

"In summary they saw a Neighbourhood Plan as a way to involve local residents to address issues such as public realm improvement and regeneration.

"Initial public meetings had shown an appetite to do this and recent experience on other local issues gave them confidence that people would come forward to help in the process."

The document was complied with involvement from Burnham and Highbridge residents, Sedgemoor District Council and Burnham-on-Sea Chamber of Trade. 

A six week consultation period is set to start later this month and leaflets are being distributed to residents in Burnham and Highbridge with more information about the proposals in the next few weeks. 

The deadline for feedback during the consultation period will be May 15. 

For more information or to read the plan visit https://www.burnhamandhighbridgeneighbourhoodplan.org/draft-consultation-documents