‘WE won’t be pushed around by Bournemouth and Poole’.

That was the message at a meeting of concerned Christchurch residents who came together to discuss the proposals which could shape the future of the town and wider BCP area.

An urgent meeting of Christchurch Citizens Association was called on Monday over the Local Plan issues and options consultation currently being carried out by BCP Council.

Members of the CCA, BCP councillors and MP Sir Christopher Chope were all present at the packed out meeting in Druitt Hall, designed to outline how residents can respond to the plans.

Issues were raised over the ‘complicated and lengthy’ process to complete the feedback forms, with many concerned about access to the plans if they weren’t able to get online.

Cllr Margaret Phipps, leading the meeting, told residents how important it was to respond to this stage of the consultation, and where they could find the relevant parts which applied to Christchurch.

She encouraged people to ask for help from their local councillors if they needed it.

The issues and options consultation is open to feedback, responses and alternative ideas until March 25.

Following the issues and options consultation, the council will produce a draft Local Plan, which would go out for public feedback.

The local authority currently expects to submit its Local Plan to the Secretary of State in spring next year before an independent planning inspector examines it in detail in autumn 2023.

If all of these hurdles are cleared, the policy document would be adopted and used to inform decisions on planning applications from early 2024.

Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope said told residents it was “absolutely essential” to respond.

He said he was going to put pressure on the council to have a public meeting and asked residents if they felt their future was as part of a city.

“Is our vision that we are part of that or are we part of the ancient borough of Christchurch, an area where time is pleasant?

“The future is for all of us together to impress upon BCP that the people of Christchurch are not going to be pushed around and imposed upon by a majority from Bournemouth and Poole.”

A petition was also available for people at the meeting which stated: “We the undersigned do formally protest and complain about the BCP administration of their local plan issues and options consultation document.

“There is insufficient time, even with the extension already granted, for an informed response to be given. This is because of the difficulties imposed by BCP’s methods of providing the information to the general public. No provision has been made for those who do not have access to computers and or lack confidence in using IT.”

Details of the consultation can be found online at haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/localplan. Residents can view the consultation online, download and print a PDF copy or pick up a summary paper survey from one of the council’s libraries.