Local Plan Preferred Options

Thank you for your email of 1 June consulting The Theatres Trust on the preferred options of the New Local Plan.

PO13 Inclusive, Safe and Healthy Communities
Paragraph 13.6 justifies the content of Preferred Option 13 in terms of sport and recreation but makes no mention of mental or cerebral well-being through indoor cultural facilities such as libraries, museums, cinemas and theatre venues which we assume is included within the term social and cultural well-being. However, we think there is a mixture of intentions in this preferred option of sport and recreation, green infrastructure, crime and safety, and design standards. We suggest these items should be included elsewhere in other more appropriate options as this particular option provides no specific guidance for its title and should be deleted.

PO17 Culture and Tourism
Thank you for these pages of support for cultural facilities. We have no comment to make other than to suggest that the strategic policy includes an item to protect and enhance existing cultural (other than visitor attractions), arts facilities and entertainment venues (where appropriate). This is stated in the Tourism section of PO17 but not the Culture section - you have quoted the NPPF on page 94 - Item 70 on page 17 of the NPPF states that to deliver the social, recreational and cultural facilities and services that the community needs, planning policies and decisions should plan for the use of shared space and guard against unnecessary loss of valued facilities. Also to ensure that established facilities and services are retained and able to develop for the benefit of the community - it would therefore be suitable to protect and enhance existing cultural facilities (other than visitor attractions) for the benefit of residents and visitors.

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