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South West Herts’ vision proceeds to next stage

Publication date:

Residents are to be consulted on a detailed vision for further improving South West Hertfordshire.

Anyone with an interest in the future of the area is being urged to register this so they will be notified when the consultation starts and they can have their say.

St Albans City and District Council (SADC) is one of five local authorities which have joined together, with the support of Hertfordshire County Council, to form the South West Herts Joint Strategic Partnership and create a long-term strategy.

The other district councils are Dacorum Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council, Watford Borough Council and Hertsmere Borough Council.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of SADC’s Policy Committee on Thursday 23 June.

Councillors considered the South West Herts 2050 – Realising Our Potential document which includes the draft vision with key objectives.

They agreed the document could go for public consultation once arrangements were made with their partner Councils. To register an interest, go to: www.swhertsplan.com.

Hertfordshire County Council are set to discuss the vision document at a Growth and Planning Panel next week.

The document marks the first formal plan-making stage for the South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan.

It has been drafted following a poll in early 2020, which generated more than 14,500 comments, a series of workshops and an online engagement exercise in which participants were asked about the future they would like to see.

If approved by all five district councils, the consultation will be held on the draft vision this summer. Responses will help shape the more detailed content of the Strategic Plan as it progresses.

Councillor Chris White, SADC Leader and Chair of the SW Herts Joint Strategic Plan Member Group, said:

Since the first highly successful online poll held just over two years ago, we’ve been working with key stakeholders and a group of 18 to 25 year olds, to set out our vision for the future of the area.

If approved for consultation by the other local authorities in South West Hertfordshire, residents will get a chance to tell us what they think about this part of Hertfordshire at present and the key issues they feel that our new Joint Strategic Plan should address. 

Your views will be vital in shaping the plan, which will serve as a blueprint for the area until 2050.

I would urge you to visit the South West Herts website and register your interest to respond, so we can let you know when we want to hear from you.

SW Herts is one of only a small number of councils in the UK working together in this way. By considering the longer-term future of a bigger area as whole, the opportunities for the future such as more Government funding for infrastructure improvements are greater.

The SW Herts JSP will not replace Local Plans which all five District Councils are still required to have in place their own up-to-date plans.

Councillor contact: Councillor Chris White, Leader and Chair of the Policy Committee: cllr.c.white@stalbans.gov.uk; 01727 845300.

Contact for the media:  John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727 819533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.