Ickleford Neighbourhood Plan 2022 - 2035 Submission Version March 2023
4. Consultation
4.1. The consultation process aimed to involve as much of the community as possible so the Plan would represent their views and priorities. It used a variety of communication
approaches, with results and updates being fed back to residents. Approaches used included:
- Regular committee meetings, which were advertised to the public
- A standing item at the monthly Parish Council meetings and annual updates presented at the Annual Parish Meetings
- The Parish Council Village News email
- The Parish Council website
- The Parish Council Facebook page
- The Ickleford Neighbourhood Plan website
- The Ickleford Neighbourhood Plan Facebook page
- The Ickleford Life Facebook page (a key discussion forum in the village)
- The Ickleford Primary School email system for parents, Parentmail
- Local Parish Council Noticeboards (and others)
- Articles in the St Katharine's Wheel, the Church and Parish Council magazine
- Stalls at local events, including Summer, Halloween and Christmas Fairs
- Leaflet drops
- Posters, banners and estate agent style signboards
- Questionnaire information session at the Village Hall
- Word of mouth and engagement with local groups 
4.2. Early engagement included using a widely promoted information/feedback form that was delivered to all households and businesses in the parish. This introduced the neighbourhood plan and asked for feedback on the following questions:
- What do you like about Ickleford?
- How could it be improved?
- What would you like to see in any new development that may come?
4.3. Early feedback identified key areas that were developed further through a household questionnaire. Both an online and paper version were created to encourage completion by as many residents as possible. While online publicity with direct links to the questionnaire was important, there was also a need to reach those who were not online. A very visual publicity campaign was planned and there was a particular focus on how to engage potentially more vulnerable residents and encourage their voices to be heard.
4.4. COVID-19 restrictions led a greater emphasis on online completion than originally planned, with plans for house-to-house collections scaled back. At the same time, ways to increase accessibility by the vulnerable and those shielding were explored. This included approaching the local helping hands group to deliver and collect questionnaires, a telephone delivery and collection service and an even greater appreciation of the need for bold publicity across the village. This included:
- Posters on village noticeboards, shops and elsewhere
- Estate agent style sign boards throughout the area
- Banners at key routes around the village
- Drop boxes
- A leaflet drop to every household in the parish
- Prominent display of questionnaires in the village store
- Online publicity and emails to local groups
4.5. A summary and full report of the results were shared online and via a drop-in information session at Ickleford Village Hall. This well-attended event also provided details of the project along with old and new photos from around the Parish, and information about the local natural environment.
4.6. The Regulation 14 Pre-Submission consultation ran from 28 Sept to 14 Nov 2022. Consultation documents were shared with statutory consultees, residents, and other local stakeholders. Publicity included a parish-wide leaflet drop, a St Katharine's Wheel article, posters, Facebook posts, emails, and an information session at the Village Hall. Documents were made available on the website, at the information session, at the telephone box book exchange and by requesting delivery by phone. People could respond using an online Survey Monkey form, by email or via a paper feedback sheet placed in a drop box at village shop. Twenty-six sets of comments were received. These are outlined in the consultation statement, along with responses and details of any subsequent changes to the Plan.
