Councillors discuss proposed conservation area

A conservation area (CA) allows tighter controls over the design of new developments, and requires permission from the council to be granted for demolition, certain alterations, and cutting down trees. The aim of a CA is to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the designated area, and to protect its heritage. Conservation areas have already been successfully designated in villages around the borough, including Earls Barton, Orlingbury, Easton Maudit and Hardwick, and Wellingborough town centre also benefits from a large designated area.

Bozeat Parish Council asked for consideration to be given to making part of the village a conservation area a few years ago, and the council subsequently agreed to begin consultation on the proposal with local residents in April last year. Two rounds of consultation have now been completed, information packs have been distributed to residents explaining exactly what a CA entails, and a great number of responses have been received.

Cllr Graham Lawman, chairman of the council's development committee said: "People obviously feel very strongly about this issue. Generally, there has been considerable public support for CAs as a means to protect an area's cultural heritage, and we have had a number of responses in support of the CA in Bozeat - people who feel that it would be a turning point for the village and an opportunity to correct mistakes made in the past.

"However, we have also had a number of objections, and we will be taking these views into account when we discuss the issue at our meeting tomorrow. The objections are mainly that the CA will introduce too much red tape, that the village's character has already been irretrievably lost, and that there will be no benefit to residents. It has been proven that while the planning regime is clearly more restrictive, it isn't as bad as some people fear and the red tape is minimal. We also believe that there is enough of Bozeat's historic and traditional character remaining for the CA to be a success.

"Our officers are recommending that the development committee designates the centre of Bozeat as a conservation area, but we will listen to everyone's opinions on the subject - we are expecting several members of the public to come and speak at the meeting, and they are most welcome - before a final decision, which could include amending the size, is made."