WELLINGTON Heath's Neighbourhood Development Plan has been adopted by Herefordshire Council and is now part of the statutory development plan for the county.

And the plan for the village has a defined settlement boundary: unlike Ledbury's neighbourhood development plan, which recently had its settlement boundary stripped away by an external examiner, because of insufficient public consultation.

Ledbury's plan, however, is also going forward to a public referendum.

Wellington's Heath's neighbourhood plan, which will now forward to a public referendum, will help to define in planning terms how the village will expand by 2031, and it will be a small expansion.

By that time, a given quota for 28 new homes should be built, taking into account the settlement boundary and small and likely "windfall" developments.

Wellington Heath's neighbourhood plan also discusses ways to maintain a physical separation from Ledbury which is set to expand northwards, with a 625-home housing estate earmarked for north of the viaduct.

That major estate is in keeping with the Core Strategy, which is Herefordshire Council's planning blueprint for the county for the next two decades or so.

Wellington Heath's neighbourhood development plan (NDP) says: "Communal consultation for the the NDP has strongly supported the maintenance of a clear gap between the urban environs of Ledbury and the village of Wellington Heath."

The parish council is to liaise with Ledbury Town Council to help maintain a "settlement green gap" between the two settlements.

This would help to "preserve the rural character of the village and the setting of the Area of Outstanding National Beauty".

Meanwhile, a former town mayor and councillor closely involved with the creation of Ledbury's flawed neighbourhood development plan, Bob Barnes, has strongly defended the process which led to its creation, and he has stressed the value of Ledbury's plan as it stands.

Mr Barnes, who resigned from Ledbury Town Council earlier this year, said: "Whatever opinions are expressed about any aspect of the NDP, be it content or cost, it is important to remember that its value lies in the opportunity it provides for the community, as a whole, to influence the County Planning Authority considerations of planning applications for this town, something that has not been possible before.

"It is only one small step, but it is a positive step forward. The NDP is by the community for the community, and even without the settlement boundary, which could still be added later, it represents a very strong statement on how this community wants to go forward."

Mr Barnes added: "It is still a very good plan, and the examiner acknowledges that, otherwise he would not have recommended it for referendum following the changes.

"We must all support it when it comes to referendum, otherwise it will have been a waste of time and money; better 75% than nothing."

Concerning the process, Mr Barnes said: "The Ledbury NDP was forged from the opinions of the community, residents and councillors together. It was overseen by a professional planning consultant, appointed by the council, and the Neighbourhood Planning Team at Herefordshire Council.

"Numerous, extensive consultations were held over the period of its production. There were open public consultations, business breakfasts, personal visits to local organisations, schools, doctors and so so on.

"Of course not all 10,000 residents took part but they were all eligible to do so; like voting, it’s a personal choice. Ledbury's settlement boundary was included in the public consultation, and those that attended gave their views on it."