PROGRESSING towards the adoption of a neighbourhood plan in Ringwood has been slammed as the “biggest waste of time, effort and money” ever considered, according to a town and district councillor.

A row broke out over proposals to explore creating a neighbourhood plan for Ringwood at a town council meeting on Wednesday.

Deputy mayor Philip Day put forward a proposal to further investigate creating the local policy document, which can focus on issues specific to the needs and ambitions at a more local level.

Cllr Day said Ringwood was the only town in the New Forest not currently working towards a neighbourhood plan.

“It gives us an opportunity to have a far great say legally in terms of planning applications than we have at the moment,” Cllr Day said.

However, there was strong opposition to the plan. Cllr Jeremy Heron said the costs involved in the plan would spiral.

He said: “If we agree this proposal I think next month we should see how much money we could pile into the middle of this room and set fire to it because this is the biggest waste of time, effort and money as I have ever, ever considered.”

“It is the biggest waste of money this council has considered to spend in a long, long time.

“This has been rejected by this council time and time again, but there are a few people around the table who think it does (make sense) and it keeps coming back like a rotten egg.

“We’re wasting money looking at something that’s pointless.”

Cllr Chris Treleaven, chair of the planning committee, rebutted Cllr Heron’s opposition.

“We are talking about the detail of our town and the life of our people,” Cllr Treleaven said.

“I know it takes a lot of time and money, that certainly is the case, but more importantly it requires foolhardy support from councillors, not just a sit round and hear comments on a paper that is presented to them, but to actually get involved with members of the public on issues.”

Members at the meeting marginally voted in favour of Cllr Day’s proposal by five votes to three in a recorded vote.

A planning consultant will now be invited to discuss neighbourhood plans with councillors at a meeting in the coming months.