Communities close to Withington, a village to the north east of Hereford, are to have their say on options to develop new rural service centres as part of the important Shaping Our Place consultation.
Due to popular demand a special evening event has been arranged, due to start at 7pm at Withington Village Hall on Thursday 4 March, to discuss how to create more and better paid jobs, more decent and affordable homes, and better transport links and public services.
Launched by Herefordshire Council, the consultation is due to finish on 12 March and will affect everyone who lives and works in the county. It sets out options for the creation of ‘rural service centres’, just below the level of market towns but with good access to employment sites, public transport and having key services like a primary school, pub, village hall, shop and post office.
The consultation is driven by the need to grow the county. Herefordshire has below average wage levels for the region but above average house prices. There are 5,000 people on the county’s housing waiting list and demand is high for homes that are decent and affordable.
“Protection of local areas are important in drawing up new policies”, Councillor John Jarvis, cabinet member for environment and strategic housing. “Parishes need to influence opportunities for Herefordshire in ways that safeguard, sustain and benefit their communities”.
Members of the public wishing to comment can access the consultation documents and complete a questionnaire on the council’s website www.herefordshire.gov.uk. Literature can also be picked up from council info shops.