pedestrian activity associated with it and its contribution to the vitality and viability of the centre”? 9.9 Given that There is disagreement about this issue, but the majority of respondents think that the Policy should remain. communities can now seek On the one hand, it is stated that, given that communities can now seek protection of valued local services and protection of facilities through measures provided by the Localism Act, there is no longer a need for Policy EP15 for the valued local determination of applications involving community services and facilities. services and facilities However, on the other, it is stated for example; through The Register of Assets of Community Value gives limited protection and is no substitute for effective local planning measures policies which cover all community facilities. provided by A policy to protect community, cultural and local assets cannot be effectively replaced by the Localism Act the Localism provisions. Nor would that satisfy the NPPF. Act, is there Para 70 of the NPPF clearly states that local planning policies must safeguard community and cultural facilities to still a need to benefit the health and well-being of the local community. The Localism Act only provides a short window for groups continue to to raise fund to purchase a property listed as a community asset, there is no requirement to sell the site for a use Policy reasonable price, and clearly does not safeguard these sites from development. EP15 in the determination It is suggested that the policy explicitly includes protection of retail banking facilities. Consideration should be given of planning as to what 'carrots and sticks' might be available to SSDC to ensure that everyone has and retains access. Maybe applications? a 'last bank standing' policy. The same should be applied to Post Offices. A very detailed representation has been received regarding the need to retain faith facilities and to promote and facilitate new ones. It is stated, for example, that local planning authorities need to develop a greater understanding of how faith groups use space which includes recognition of the differences between and within faith groups
pedestrian activity associated with it and its contribution to the vitality and viability of the centre”? 9.9 Given that communities can now seek protection of valued local services and facilities through measures provided by the Localism Act, is there still a need to continue to use Policy EP15 in the determination of planning applications? There is disagreement about this issue, but the majority of respondents think that the Policy should remain. On the one hand, it is stated that, given that communities can now seek protection of valued local services and facilities through measures provided by the Localism Act, there is no longer a need for Policy EP15 for the determination of applications involving community services and facilities. However, on the other, it is stated for example; The Register of Assets of Community Value gives limited protection and is no substitute for effective local planning policies which cover all community facilities. A policy to protect community, cultural and local assets cannot be effectively replaced by the Localism Act provisions. Nor would that satisfy the NPPF. Para 70 of the NPPF clearly states that local planning policies must safeguard community and cultural facilities to benefit the health and well-being of the local community. The Localism Act only provides a short window for groups to raise fund to purchase a property listed as a community asset, there is no requirement to sell the site for a reasonable price, and clearly does not safeguard these sites from development. It is suggested that the policy explicitly includes protection of retail banking facilities. Consideration should be given as to what 'carrots and sticks' might be available to SSDC to ensure that everyone has and retains access. Maybe a 'last bank standing' policy. The same should be applied to Post Offices. A very detailed representation has been received regarding the need to retain faith facilities and to promote and facilitate new ones. It is stated, for example, that local planning authorities need to develop a greater understanding of how faith groups use space which includes recognition of the differences between and within faith groups