'Preparation of the Easington LDF commenced in 2006 and the policies and proposals within this document have been drawn up in response to the feedback received from initial consultation on Issues and Options documents, ‘Have Your Say - Planning the Future of Easington District’ and ‘Have your Say - How Planning Applications will be Decided’.
During the intervening period, and following advice from Government Office, it has been decided that these two issues and options documents will be incorporated in to one document.
The Council is now seeking your views on the preferred strategies and polices expressed in this Preferred Options document. Consultation is for 6 weeks from 16th May 2008 until 27th June 2008 and you are encouraged to use the response form when you reply. As this is a formal consultation period all responses will need to have been received by 4.30 pm on 27th June 2008.
A Sustainability Appraisal has been prepared to evaluate the policies and proposals within the Preferred Options document. This is also published for consultation for the same period as the Preferred Options document. A non-technical summary is also available and you are encouraged to make representations using the same response form. The documents are available on the Council’s website but if you require a hard copy please contact a member of the planning policy team.
All of these documents, and the response form are available on the Council’s website at www.easington.gov.uk and you can email your responses to ldf@easington.gov.uk.
In light of the recent Local Government Review, which will see abolition of District of Easington Council and its replacement with a unitary authority for the whole of County Durham, it should be noted that the Preferred Options document will not be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination and adoption. Any representations will be considered as part of the evaluation of options to be taken forward by the new planning authority for County Durham in the preparation of a new Local Development Framework for the County.'