In a recent edition of the Evening Advertister there was an article, Swindon Borough Local Plan: Your Representations are Important, in which George Matheson questioned whether there was any point in making objections to the Draft Local Plan.

The answer of course is yes. Mr Matheson's objections were considered by the council along with all those received during the First Deposit period.

That the council have determined that the plan should not be amended to incorporate Mr Matheson's wishes gives him the right to be heard by an independent inspector at the forthcoming inquiry. It will be the inspector who judges each case and recommends which point of view should adopted .

Clearly, the borough council cannot accept every representation made to the plan. For every large allocation there are both objections and statements of support.

The Revised Deposit Draft Plan incorporates many alterations from the First Deposit Draft that have been made as a direct consequence of representations received.

Any representations that are still outstanding will automatically be considered by an inspector, along with those to the changes in the Revised Deposit Draft, so it is important they are made. It is equally important that any objections made that the council have satisfactorily resolved are withdrawn.

The Revised Deposit Draft Local Plan can be viewed on the borough council's website, and may be inspected at all libraries and at the council offices at Wat Tyler House and Premier House.

The council welcomes representations on the changes made to the plan, which must be received by the council no later than 4.30pm on January 12, 2004. The Forward Planning team are available to answer any queries and offer advice during normal working hours and until 7pm on Thursdays at Premier House during the deposit period.

(Coun) Lisa Hawkes

Chairwoman,

Local Plan Review Working Party