5.4

Comment

Representation ID: 9470

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Luton & Bedfordshire Green Party

We would reiterate previous comments we have made about the need for a review of town centre cycling as the current ban is, in our opinion, in direct opposition to these plans.

Object

Representation ID: 10474

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Bedfordshire Police

Agent: West Mercia OPCC

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Bedfordshire Police (BP) welcome and support the statement in paragraph 5.4 that key issues for the town centre include managing the night-time economy to reduce disturbance and make the area safer.

Whilst we support the provisions in Policies TC2, TC5 and TC9 that state proposals in town centres should not lead to anti-social behavior or other problems, the Local Plan would be far more effective in policy terms if it addressed this subject through a dedicated policy due to the complex issues involved.

As paragraph 97 of the National Planning Policy Framework states, planning policies should promote public safety and take account of wider security requirements, particularly threats in locations where large numbers of people are expected to congregate. Paragraph 97 goes on to state that policies should be informed by the most up-to-date information from the police to decide on steps that can be taken to reduce vulnerability, increase resilience, ensure public safety and provide security.

Given that the Local Plan breaks-up its policy on the evening and night-time economy across three policies, which when taken cumulatively do not grapple with this topic very well, the result is a policy approach that is not effective nor consistent with paragraphs 35 and 97 of the NPPF.