While we all try to stick to New Year’s resolutions and make plans for the rest of the year, why not use the start of 2023 to think about the future of your neighbourhood and the ambitions you have for the places you cherish the most?
The world around us is constantly changing so it’s important we lay down a plan, not just for our own future but also what we want to see for our local areas and the type of environment where we can all live and thrive.
Over the last few years you have been sharing your aspirations and ideas for Kingston, which we’ve now used to create a first draft of a compelling 20 year vision for our borough. But have we got it right? Will it ensure a bright future for Kingston and the people who live, work, study and visit here? We’d like to know what you support in the draft Local Plan - and, just as important, if anything is missing or needs changing?
We want this plan to be truly local and represent the desires of our communities, as it will be used to provide guidance on what developers will be allowed to build here in the future.
We’ve already held some thought-provoking workshops with local school children - who are of course who this plan is really for - and have heard in no uncertain terms what they want to see, including more space for nature and air pollution dramatically reduced.
I’ve also heard first hand from members of our Citizens’ Panel, who have been helping to produce a vision for the Kingston town centre and surrounding area, about the importance of making our neighbourhoods greener and more accessible. It has been invaluable hearing their voices, representing all sections of our community.
You can share your views on as little or as much of the Local Plan as you want, depending on what you're most interested and passionate about - from climate change and transport to housing, design and the natural environment. Please have your say by visiting: kingston.gov.uk/localplan.
As part of our consultation, we are also working closely with partners - the Kingston Society, the North Kingston Neighbourhood Forum, Chessington District Residents' Association, New Malden Residents' Association and Kingston University - to open a pilot ‘urban room’ for Kingston. Called Open Frame, it has been designed and constructed by students from the university’s School of Art following a design competition last year. It will be in the Market House, right in the heart of Kingston’s Market Place, and will be a space where anyone can drop in or attend events to understand, debate and get involved discussing the future development of our borough.
If you’re a local organisation and would like to use Open Frame in February, to hold an event or conversation about the future of the borough, please get in touch by emailing communications@kingston.gov.uk. Help us to create a jam-packed programme and attract a wide range of people in.
So as we kick off this year, we’re more passionate than ever that by putting people in the driving seat to determine how our borough changes and develops in the future, we can be confident that the Kingston of tomorrow will be a true reflection of what our communities want.
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