Press Release

18 November 2020

Council uses virtual exhibition to reach residents

Fareham Borough Council is using a virtual exhibition to set out the details of its Local Plan in order to reach as many residents as possible during lockdown.

Current restrictions make it impossible for the Council to hold traditional meetings so it is embracing new technology that allows people to access all of the information about the proposed Publication Local Plan at a time to suit them.

The virtual exhibition platform features include:

A welcome video from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Seán Woodward
A guide to moving around the exhibition and accessing all of the information
A presentation setting out the proposed approach to the Publication Local Plan
An interactive map
Links to supporting evidence
A timeline showing the Council’s progress
Contact details for arranging to speak to a Planning Officer

Cllr Seán Woodward said: ‘It is really important for residents to have their say on our proposed approach to development across the Borough, it is for this reason that we have taken a completely new approach to consultation on this occasion. This virtual exhibition is a first for us and I hope that it will allow people that can’t usually attend a meeting because of other commitments to take the time to look through the evidence and have their say.’

Details about how to take part in the consultation have been distributed to houses across the Borough in the Council’s magazine ‘Fareham Today’, which is also available from the Council’s website and on the virtual exhibition platform.

Usually additional copies of the magazine would be available from libraries, community centres and the Council’s offices; however, this is not possible during lockdown.

To counter this, anyone who cannot find their copy of Fareham Today, and cannot access it online, can request a copy be sent to them by post by emailing customerservices@fareham.gov.uk, or calling 01329 236100.

To access the consultation and virtual consultation visit www.fareham.gov.uk/localplanconsultation.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The Council has a range of methods and tools for engaging and consulting and these are set out in the Statement of Community Involvement which can be found on the Council’s website. This requires consultation on the local plan to be publicised using traditional and social media and the possible use of exhibitions.

The Council has gone to extensive lengths to ensure it can reach as many people as possible during lockdown throughout the consultation period and advertised the consultation on the Council’s 43 noticeboards across the Borough, commissioned a virtual exhibition and produced a Fareham Today (Council magazine) to encourage people to take part.