Public invited to have their say on East Riding Local Plan update at series of drop-in sessions

A series of public consultation drop-in events are to be held across the East Riding next month which will give people the chance to speak to council staff about the East Riding Draft Local Plan update.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is asking residents to have their say on the East Riding Draft Local Plan update, which sets out revised housing and employment targets for the East Riding.

The current East Riding Local Plan was adopted in April 2016 and the updated plan is proposing that the housing requirement in the East Riding should be 20,900 by 2039, with the sites for allocation also included in the proposals.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the consultation is taking place over 10 weeks rather than the usual six-week period and while the documents for people to comment on can be found online at www.eastriding.gov.uk/localplanupdate a series of public consultation drop-in events are to be held at locations across the East Riding.

The drop-in events, which will follow strict COVID-19 guidelines, will be held at the following seven East Riding venues:

• Thursday, 1 July: Bridlington Spa, 12noon-7pm
• Monday, 5 July: Howden – Shire Hall, 12noon-7pm
• Thursday 8 July: Driffield Community Centre, 12noon-7pm
• Monday, 12 July: Goole – The Courtyard, 12noon-7pm
• Wednesday, 14 July – Beverley Leisure Centre, 12noon-7pm
• Tuesday, 20 July – Pocklington Arts Centre, 12noon-7pm
• Thursday, 22 July – Withernsea Leisure Centre, 12noon-7pm.

All the events will be reviewed in consultation with the council’s public health team 48 hours before taking place to ensure staff and visitor safety.

Should an event need to be cancelled then the information will be updated on www.eastriding.gov.uk/localplanupdate so anyone wishing to attend a session is advised to check the website beforehand to ensure the event is still taking place.

As well as the drop-in sessions and access online, copies of the documents are also available to view at the council’s libraries, customer service centres, multi-service centres and mobile libraries.

Councillor Gary McMaster, portfolio holder for planning, infrastructure and housing, said: “The East Riding Draft Local Plan will shape the future of the East Riding for many years so it’s important that residents are able to have their say and give us their views on the proposed housing, employment and mixed-use allocations across the towns and villages.

“While the consultation documents are available online and at council venues, such as customer service centres and libraries, these public consultation drop-in events will give people the opportunity to speak to council officers about the proposals.

“The events have been organised following strict COVID-19 guidelines so people interested in attending will be safe doing so.”

Comments can be made online via www.eastriding.gov.uk/localplanupdate or by writing to Forward Planning (AS67), East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Cross Street, Beverley, HU17 9BA.

All responses should be received no later than Friday, 6 August 2021.