There is still time to comment on changes to Hampshire’s Minerals and Waste Plan, with the 12 week consultation closing at the end of this month.

Hampshire’s five minerals and waste planning authorities are asking residents, local groups and businesses to help scrutinise proposed changes to the plan.

The plan making partners, Hampshire County Council, South Downs National Park Authority, New Forest National Park Authority, Portsmouth City Council, and Southampton City Council, have a duty to make appropriate provision for minerals extraction and the management of waste.

This is to ensure that, in line with current legislation, there will be a steady and adequate supply of minerals and sufficient waste infrastructure.

The new plan will also help maintain communities, protect the local environment and address the impacts of climate change

The consultation that ends at 5pm on Tuesday, January 31, is the opportunity for residents to comment on proposed updates to policies.

They can also provide additional helpful local knowledge about sites that have been identified for minerals extraction and transportation.

These are important in ensuring that Hampshire can meet demand, for example, in the supply of sand, gravel and brickmaking clay to build houses, schools, hospitals and roads.

Sites for waste processing, recycling and disposal facilities are also indicated in the plan - so that the millions of tonnes of household and commercial waste generated across the county can be dealt with as efficiently and sustainably as possible.

Having an up-to-date minerals and waste plan in place is the best way to ensure that minerals and waste operations fully consider the character and special qualities of the county.

Not having one would make Hampshire vulnerable to having sites imposed by government planning inspectors, and so lose the opportunity to ensure local issues are considered when sites come forward for minerals or waste development.

Any site identified in the final plan does not signal it has or will receive planning permission for minerals extraction or as a waste management location.

Operators must apply for permission in the usual way, taking account of all the environmental considerations and assessing the impact on the local community and area, including undertaking consultation with stakeholders.

Land identified would be released only if it is needed, and the planning application fully satisfies the stringent criteria and other tests set out in the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan.

Before completing the online consultation questionnaire, respondents are advised to first read the draft Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan Partial Update which can be found, with the response form, on this webpage: www.hants.gov.uk/minerals-waste-update

Additionally, a consultation response form can be downloaded from the same webpage for completing and either emailing to [email protected]

or posting to: Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan - Partial Update, Minerals & Waste Policy, Elizabeth II Court West, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UQ

Those making their views known should note that for a representation to be accepted, it must be accompanied by the respondent’s full name and postal address.

Petitions will be recorded as one response as the issues raised will be the same.

Following closure of the consultation, the feedback will help to inform the preparation of a pre-submission version of the Partial Update to the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan which will then be examined by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate.