If you live or work in our local area please help prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for Caterham, Chaldon and Whyteleafe, which will be a significant influence locally on planning. The Localism Act introduces Neighbourhood Plans. These plans can include policies on the development and use of land in a parish or neighbourhood area. Once such a plan is adopted, it becomes a main consideration within the planning system when considering town planning applications, being positioned directly below the Council’s Core Strategy. The parishes of Caterham on the Hill, Caterham Valley, Chaldon and Whyteleafe, together with the Caterham Community Partnership and the Caterham Business Partnership have teamed up to prepare this plan. An application was approved via Tandridge District Council planning department and the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), with DCLG awarding Frontrunner status to our group named "The CR3 Forum" in 2012. We plan on being ready to proceed to public referendum in late 2014. Given the amount of work to do this is ambitious but achievable. There is already an enthusiastic group of people who have come forward to participate but we do want the widest community involvement and are still actively seeking volunteers. In particular, people with knowledge of particular areas, such as housing, education, healthcare, business, etc are very welcome. Landowners and developers are also invited to join us. Because it is a unique opportunity for US as local residents and businesses to decide how WE want OUR town to be! Please do consider taking part as a volunteer in various areas as described on the web site www.cr3forum.org.uk
