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News & Initiatives
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​8 Nov 25

  Christchurch Neighbourhood Plan (NP)

   Update November 2025

  • The Neighbourhood Plan Working Group has now completed the final draft which will be presented to the full Town Council on 19th November.

  • Subsequent to this date, a full Christchurch wide consultation will take place for which each household will receive a 4 page newsletter in Nov/Dec 2025.

  • Adoption of the plan is hoped to be Autumn 2026.

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  • To read a 'simple overview for residents', please click the link below â€‹ 

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  • For full details please click the link below

​8 Nov 25

  BCP Draft Local Plan

   Update 26 June 2025

  • The Council agreed to withdraw the draft Local Plan on 3 June 2025. This was due to the Inspectors insistence that the housing targets of 2,806/annum must be met.

  • FCRA feels that this target is unrealistic unless we lose huge amounts of Green Belt land and build high rise blocks in Towns.

  • New timetable to draft a new Local Plan and go through the required process is available at the following link: 

 

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  • ​​​​Adoption will not be before Sept 2028.

  • The Christchurch Neighbourhood Plan will now be reworked to align with existing Christchurch and East Dorset policies in order to proceed.​​​​​​​​

​16 Jul 25

  BCP Licencing  Information 

  • At the FCRA Quarterly Meeting on 4 Sep 2025, Sarah Rogers (BCP Principal Licensing Officer) explained the intricacies behind some of the recent licencing applications in our area.

    • A copy of her presentation is available at the link below

    • She also supplied a contact number for BCP Council’s Out of Hours Noise Service - Tel: 0800 506 050

​8 Nov 25

  BCP Anti-social Behaviour Policy 

  • At the FCRA Quarterly Meeting on 5 Dec 2024, Claire Seymour (BCP's lead for anti-social behaviour) spoke about how the BCP ASB team can help - a copy of her presentation is available by clicking the link below 

   Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM)

  • BCP's FCERM website has lots of information about the projects underway along on our coastline​​

  • The damaged groyne markers on Avon & Friars Cliff beaches have now been removed

  • More information about this and the work on Hengistbury Head long groyne is availabe at the links below

  BCP 'Planning Foundations'

  • At the FCRA Open meeting on 28 May 2024, Wendy Lane (BCP Director of Planning and Transport) gave a presentation titled 'Planning Foundations'

  • The slides she used are available at the link below

  BCP Current Local Plans

  • As BCP’s submitted Local Plan was withdrawn after the Planning Inspectors' challenge, it will be reworked and is not likely to be submitted until late 2028.

  • In the meantime existing policies, available at the following link, remain in place:​​

​8 Nov 25

  FCRA Heritage Assets​

  • Following campaigning by FCRA, BCP Council has installed heritage memorials and displays at Steamer Point.

  • 3 x large “totem” style steel columns adjacent to the 3 concrete bases near the car park. These provide interesting information about the area's military past.

  • In the nature reserve, signage explaining the purpose of the old buildings and sculptures.

  • There is also a woodland trail with various notice boards and QR codes for further information.

  Water Quality​ - Phosphates

  • FCRA continue to lead with education to other groups, bolstered by our relationship with Wessex Water (see 1st link below for Matt Wheeldon's presentation).

  • BCP have agreed on a way forward to balance water quality in the River Avon and Harbour with the need for additional housing.

  • BCP also recently decided to not use CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) funds to mitigate additional phosphate levels and opted, instead, to use funding that could have been spent elsewhere in the conurbation.

  • This may slow down the rate of building development as developers are waiting for the Levelling-Up bill currently going through Parliament.

  • Concerns raised over “credits” to allow development.

  • Local water quality has, not only, changed colour but taste has also deteriorated.

 All Saints Church Mudeford​

  • Planning permission is now granted and just awaiting the faculty to be granted from the Diocese, which should be any day.

  • Tender packages are being prepared to send out to those interested in the construction of our new church and community hub.

  • A fundraising appeal was launched to church members on 13th October.

  • A sum of £350,000 is needed for the additional improvements; church members will be rolling out efforts into the community with a list of events for next year ahead of a final public fundraising initiative.

  Beach Clean / Litter-Picking​

  • A number of groups conduct periodic beach cleans and litter picks along our beaches and footpaths.

  • We very much appreciate the environmental improvement this achieves.

  • 'Seashorty' is a popular local group that conducts regular beach cleans throughout the year.

  National Coastwatch Institition (NCI) Station at Friars Cliff beach​

​16 Jul 25

  • The NCI have now dropped their requirement for a second station at Friars Cliff, and our shelter adjacent to the toilets will remain, undergoing some refurbishment.

 Tree Plantings​​

  • FCRA is actively looking to get more trees planted and the stumps along Avon Run Road removed.

  • However, BCP’s latest draft of “2050 Urban Forest Strategy” is very confusing and has delayed/stopped our previous agreements with BCP on planting and removal.

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