ILMINSTER residents have been invited to submit comments on the town's neighbourhood plan, which has now entered its final stages of adoption. 

The town council says the neighbourhood plan could bring “many benefits for Ilminster” covering environment and leisure; economy, leisure, and tourism, and access and movement. 

The neighbourhood plan was approved by the council in March last year and published in June.

It outlines the future development, regeneration, and conservation within the town until 2036.

A spokesperson for Ilminster Town Council said: “Four years ago, Ilminster Town Council resolved to work to create a neighbourhood plan for the town.

“In the following years, a great deal of consultation involving the schools, special interest groups, owners of businesses, individual members of the community, and developers has taken place.

“This consultation drew attention to a lack of consensus on where housing could go and so led to the decision to exclude the site allocations from the plan.

“The plan has now entered the final stages of adoption where all members of the Ilminster community are able to submit comments on the plan.

“These will then be available to a planning inspector to consider alongside the plan. There will then be a final town referendum on accepting or rejecting the proposal.”

The environment and leisure aspects of the plan include the development and protection of outdoor splaces such as Herne Hill, the recreation ground, and footpaths and cycle paths. 

It will aim to preserve the town's heritage by “encouraging a balanced approach to development” while trying to make Ilminster a town people want to work and live in or visit. 

Its access and movement plans are focused on encouraging “sustainable traffic movement” and improving pedestrian accessibility.

The plan also includes the Ilminster Design Guide, which the council says would help determine the town's character and address the sustainability of future developments.

The neighbourhood plan is available to view at Ilminster Library, the Ilminster Town Council offices, and the South Somerset District Council offices in Brympton Way, Yeovil.

It can also be viewed online on the district council's website.

You can comment on the Ilminster Neighbourhood Plan by emailing planningpolicy@southsomerset.gov.uk or by addressing a letter to: Strategic Planning Team, South Somerset District Council, Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2HT.