Circumstances outside of our control
The planning system’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic is embedded within the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.
If national or local lockdowns are re-imposed during the lifetime of this SCI, physical, in-person consultation events or engagement may not be permitted. In such circumstances, we would look to maximise engagement by using some of the following measures, to ensure inclusivity and engagement especially with hard-to-reach groups:
- Placing adverts
- Sending letters and hard copies of presentations/information
- Using social media (Twitter - @TMBC_Kent, Facebook - ‘Tonbridge and Malling’, Instagram - @tmbc.kent)
- Placing information at noticeboards owned by the Council and parish councils
- Use of virtual meetings and workshops on Zoom or Microsoft Teams
- Use of video presentations and explainer videos to communicate key messages about what we are doing and sharing these via our website and social media platforms
- Digital/interactive consultations utilising specific software
- Providing documents on our website and hard copies only for those without internet access
We may also look to extend consultation periods to ensure that everyone has their say, if we feel that circumstances beyond our control have impacted on how the community gains access to consultation information.