Residents are being given the chance to comment on important planning documents relating to Granville Park in Aughton.

The Borough Council is asking residents what they think about two draft documents it has produced – one is an update of the character appraisal for the Granville Park Conservation Area and the other is a design guide for those developing or altering properties in the conservation area.

The design guide was produced following feedback received during a workshop held in April attended by a number of local residents.

A conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which is considered worthy of protection and improvement. It is the combination of the buildings, street patterns, open spaces, vistas, landmarks and other features which give a conservation area its distinctive character.

Under planning legislation the Council has wider powers than usual to control development which might damage the conservation area’s character. The controls are set out in these character appraisal documents. These set out the historic context of the area, identify key buildings and places, highlight features that make an area special and look at how these important places can best be managed. They also set out any new recommendations for the area, including whether changes are needed to the present conservation area boundary.

The Council wants residents to give their views as part of its ongoing programme of reviewing its conservation area character appraisals. The public consultation begins on Monday 17 October and lasts until 5pm on Friday 4 November. A public exhibition explaining what the appraisal is about and highlighting key issues in Granville Park is on Thursday 27 October in Aughton Village Hall from 2pm and 7pm. Council Officers will be available to answer any questions at this exhibition.

Councillor John Hodson, portfolio holder for planning, said: “I would encourage people to come to the exhibition and take part in the consultation. While the consultation is open to everyone in the borough we would particularly welcome the views of people living in the Granville Park area.”

Comments received through the consultation, together with other survey work, will be taken into account by Councillors when they consider whether to approve the revised character appraisal and design guide.

For full information, copies of the documents and to give your comments please visit www.westlancs.gov.uk/heritage. Alternatively you can email your views to cerys.edwards@westlancs.gov.uk or you can call Cerys on 01695 585068 to have a copy of the documents posted out to you. Written comments can be posted to Cerys Edwards, Planning Officer, West Lancashire Borough Council, 52 Derby Street, Ormskirk, L39 2DF.

For a recent QLocal story on Granville Park and how it's been changing, click here:thttp://ormskirk.qlocal.co.uk/ormskirk/news_list/The_elephant_in_the_room___what_next_for_Granville_Park_-55011307.htm