On Tuesday, 17th June, around 50 people filled one of the meeting rooms in the Soper Hall in Caterham Valley for the first AGM of the CR3 Forum Neighbourhood Plan.

After Cllr. Chris Botten was voted in as Chairman of the Forum and Cllr. Geoff Duck as the Vice-Chairman, voting took place for representatives from the Chaldon, Caterham and Whyteleafe Parish Councils as well as from the local business community. With the formalities over Cllr. Geoff Duck was invited by the Chairman to brief everyone present on the Forum's progress so far.

Geoff said that the Forum had produced a good report for the Neighbourhood Plan using information collected from the original CR3 Forum survey. The survey was sent out to CR3 residents last year, asking for their views on different aspects of living in the CR3 area. Of particular importance were the recommendations and evidence in the report that can be used to work out future planning policies. Surrey County Council ('SCC') also found the data from the survey very helpful, particularly in areas such as education, so the Forum will be working with SCC to help them more clearly identify the work they need to be doing.

The CR3 Forum is currently undergoing a consultation process with exhibitions across the CR3 area, where comments from the public about local issues will be recorded and addressed. Tandridge District Council will then have six weeks to examine all the data in advance of a referendum taking place next year on whether or not to adopt the Neighbourhood Plan. If adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan will give the community in the CR3 area of Tandridge much more influence on important local matters such as planning policies.

There then followed a question and answer session with the audience, before Chris Botten summed up by saying: “The CR3 Forum is one of the most democratic processes I have ever witnessed. I can now declare this meeting over with a call to arms for further work in the knowledge that under the stewardship of the people leading this process we will get there!”

The next public consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan is being held in the Soper Hall in Harestone Valley Road, Caterham Valley this Saturday, 21st June from 11am-4pm.