Have Your Say. Rutland Launches Scoping Consultation for New Local Plan (2026–2046)

By Local Democracy & Public Affairs Reporter for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, not affiliated to the BBC LDRS

Have Your Say. Rutland Launches Scoping Consultation for New Local Plan (2026–2046)

Rutland County Council has officially launched a public scoping consultation for the Rutland Local Plan 2026 – 2046. Operating under the government's updated plan-making system, this early consultation gives residents, local businesses, and community groups a vital opportunity to shape the future development of the county from the ground up.

What is the Purpose of the Consultation?

At this initial stage, no final decisions have been made regarding specific planning policies or housing site allocations. Instead, the council is seeking feedback on two core documents:

• The Scoping Report: Outlining the proposed scope, key issues, challenges, and evidence base required for the new plan.

• Draft Consultation and Engagement Strategy: Detailing how the council will work alongside local communities and stakeholders throughout the plan-making process.

Key Dates and Deadlines

• Consultation Opening: Thursday, 10 September 2026

• Consultation Closing: Wednesday, 14 October 2026 at 4:00 PM

Where to View Consultation Documents

The full suite of documents can be accessed online via the Scoping Consultation | Rutland County Council page.

For those preferring or requiring offline access, physical copies are available for review:

• Council Offices: Catmose House, Catmos Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP (during normal opening hours)

• Local Libraries: Public copies are available across libraries in Oakham, Uppingham, Ketton, and Ryhall (visit the Rutland Library Service website for operating hours). Public internet computers are available at these branches for reviewing materials and submitting online responses.

How to Submit Your Response

Rutland County Council encourages participants to use digital formats where possible to streamline processing:

1. Online Portal (Preferred): Submit via the Rutland County Council Consultations Portal.

2. Email: Send your feedback to localplan@rutland.gov.uk.

3. By Post: Mail written responses to the Planning Policy Team, Rutland County Council, Catmose House, Catmos Street, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP.

For more local news, community updates, and what's on in the area, visit: 
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Oakham Town Council has taken a bold and forward-thinking step to safeguard the recreational heart of the community, a supportive letter from Rutland County Councillor Raymond Payne.

By Local Democracy & Public Affairs Reporter for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, not affiliated to the BBC LDRS

Oakham Town Council has taken a bold and forward-thinking step to safeguard the recreational heart of the community, a supportive letter from Rutland County Councillor Raymond Payne.

The council has agreed in principle to grant both the local Tennis and Bowls clubs a 99-year lease at a peppercorn rent for the site they currently occupy. While the decision remains subject to necessary legal advice, the move has been widely praised for its potential to secure the long-term future of these vital sporting assets.

Highlighting the significance of the decision, Cllr Payne emphasised the stark contrast between this unspoiled corner of the town which also encompasses the nearby cricket grounds and the large-scale housing developments currently transforming the surrounding landscape.

The site within the Oakham South Ward serves as a charming, relatively untouched haven amidst ongoing regional expansion.

Providing a secure, century-long foundation ensures that generations of residents will continue to enjoy grassroots sports facilities.

Cllr Payne noted that he is confident he speaks on behalf of fellow Oakham South Councillors Paul Brown and Diane Ellison in backing the initiative.

By locking in long-term security for the tennis and bowls clubs, Oakham Town Council has made a definitive commitment to protecting the traditional character and community spirit of the area against future overdevelopment.

Oakham Town Council Chairman Martin Brookes sees this as the best way forward to safeguard the future of the clubs and hopefully this will stop any further idiotic attempts by any councillor to seek to dispose of the sites for housing.

Councillor Raymond Payne's Letter:

Dear Sir,

I just wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate the Oakham Town Council on its decision to agree in principle, to granting both the Tennis and Bowls clubs a 99 year lease, at a peppercorn rent ,on the site that they both currently occupy. I am aware that rightly this is subject to legal advice, but the motivation is correct and forward thinking.

That particular corner of the town, which includes the Cricket grounds, also just happens to be part of Oakham South Ward which I currently have the privilege to represent, is a charming and relatively untouched oasis when compared to the massive housing developments that are, and I am afraid will in the future, be inflicted upon us. This brave decision by the council will help preserve part of the essential character of Oakham.

I have no doubt that I speak for my fellow Oakham South Councilor’s, Paul Brown and Diane Ellison

Regards, Cllr, Ray Payne

For more local news, community updates, and what's on in the area, visit: 
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John Street, Melton Road and Deans Street and Gaol Street.

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Oakham And Rutland What's On Guide

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Music Bands Live music 2026 Bandstand Cutts Close Oakham Rutland

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Oakham Town Council tackled a packed agenda at its latest meeting, addressing major financial overhauls, community leases, and rising costs for local services.

By Local Democracy & Public Affairs Reporter for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, not affiliated to the BBC LDRS

Oakham Town Council tackled a packed agenda at its latest meeting, addressing major financial overhauls, community leases, and rising costs for local services.

The evening opened with public deputations concerning the future of the Oakham tennis and bowls club site. Following this, Rutland County Councillor Raymond Payne delivered a report touching on road resurfacing across Oakham and the current lack of an emergency flood plan. On local government reorganization, Cllr Payne suggested that the recent pause should not be viewed as a definitive U-turn.

Councillors voted to defer a £34,000 payment to Rutland County Council for the Oakham Hopper Bus Service due to the ongoing absence of a formal contract between the two authorities. Highlighting the project's financial trajectory, Cllr Brookes pointed out that when the council initially agreed to back the service three years ago, the cost stood at £10,000 before escalating to the current figure. This expenditure is 10% of the councils annual precept income.

The council approved a series of recommendations stemming from the August 26 Finance Committee meeting, beginning with a heavily reviewed budget to replace an original version described by Cllr Brookes as flawed and "rubbish."

To modernise its financial administration, the council agreed to purchase the sales and purchase ledger add-ons for the Rialtas accounting system at a one-off cost of £1,791 plus VAT, alongside an annual fee of £490 plus VAT—a software upgrade noted as long overdue. Additionally, councillors advanced plans to relocate the Town Council offices to Princess Avenue. The prospective move carries an estimated price tag of up to £70,000 and would incorporate dedicated committee space.

Currently, the Locum Clerk is working hard to sort out Oakham Town Council's accounts and is dealing with many questions put to the council by its external auditor.

In a decisive move for local recreation, the council unanimously agreed to begin work on granting 99-year leases to both the Oakham Tennis Club and the Oakham Bowls Club, cementing long-term protection for both sporting sites.

The council reviewed outline planning application 2025/0480/MAO regarding the erection of 135 dwellings on land southeast of Brooke Road, focusing on reserved matters encompassing appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale. Ultimately, the council resolved not to submit formal comments on the application.

The next meeting of Oakham Town Council is scheduled for October 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM.

For more local news, community updates, and what's on in the area, visit: 
Oakham and Rutland News

Discover Oakham High Street
Including Market Place, Market Street, Church Street, Crown Walk,
John Street, Melton Road and Deans Street and Gaol Street.

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Discover Oakham Northgate Oakham Rutland

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/northgateoakham

Oakham And Rutland What's On Guide

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Music Bands Live music 2026 Bandstand Cutts Close Oakham Rutland

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/summer-2026-music-at-cutts-close-park-oakham-bandstand-rutland

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Inside the 18-Month Mission to Rescue Rutland’s Forgotten Zoo

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) 2009 

Rutland Falconry and Owl Centre

According to a LincsOnline report, Peterborough City Council’s licensing team spent approximately 18 months executing what was termed “one of the most significant and complex pieces of work” from the past year: enforcing the closure of a licensed zoo and safely relocating nearly 100 animals.

Though the zoo fell under Rutland County Council’s jurisdiction, Peterborough’s licensing department spearheaded the operation. Both councils declined to name the facility, but LincsOnline identified it as the closed Rutland Falconry and Owl Centre, later known as the Rutland Wildlife Sanctuary.

The origin story dates back to 2000, when Chris Lawton a former competitive weightlifter and strongman with a lifelong passion for raptors partnered with local landowners. He secured access to a 42-acre plot of ancient woodland nestled between Exton and Burley near Oakham to build a natural habitat and educational facility. While it began strictly as an avian center, its mission shifted in 2005 after Chris Lawton began taking in exotic big cats, such as pumas and leopards, that were discarded by private owners, retired from breeding programs, or facing euthanasia. He built large, secluded woodland enclosures, and his hands-on management style defined the facility for two decades.

Despite its initial vision, the attraction faced years of heavy public criticism from visitors over the condition animals were kept in. In January 2004 (noting the historical trajectory), management attempted a major regulatory restructure, rebranding as the Rutland Wildlife Sanctuary and appointing a board of trustees to pursue charitable status for grants and long-term public funding. This transition included tightening public access to conform with updated zoo licensing guidelines.

However, local licensing authorities ultimately determined the sanctuary’s conditions and operational setup failed to meet the strict criteria of the UK's modern Zoo Licensing Act. Rather than a  courtroom trial, the closure was enforced administratively via council compliance orders. This triggered the quiet, multi-agency operation involving zoo operators, welfare groups, veterinarians, and key stakeholders to clear the site.

Each of the nearly 100 animals—ranging from reptiles and birds of prey like Rhea the northern goshawk, to larger exotic animals like pumas—required careful assessment and placement in suitable licensed facilities. Writing in the council’s Licensing Annual Update report, head of regulatory services Jacqui Harvey noted that the project concluded successfully with all animals safely relocated and no adverse welfare outcomes identified.

Rehoming of some of the big cats had began in 2003, with an Amur leopard named Argun serving as one of the first to move to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent. The sanctuary welcomed back a familiar face, as Argun had spent 10 years at the Rutland facility after leaving Kent in 2013. As the world’s most endangered big cat, Argun’s return supports species conservation. He is currently monitored and prepared for a breeding program due to his valuable DNA contribution to gene pool diversity. Once fully prepared, he will join a breeding partner.

Long-time supporters recognise Argun as the son of Xizi and Artur from the first litter of Amur leopards born at the Kent sanctuary on October 12, 2008, alongside his twin brother Anuy. While Artur passed away in 2021, Xizi still resides at the sanctuary.

For more local news, community updates, and what's on in the area, visit: 
Oakham and Rutland News

Discover Oakham High Street
Including Market Place, Market Street, Church Street, Crown Walk,
John Street, Melton Road and Deans Street and Gaol Street.

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/highstreetoakham

Discover Oakham

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/discoveroakham

Discover Oakham Northgate Oakham Rutland

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/northgateoakham

Oakham And Rutland What's On Guide

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/OakhamandRutlandWhatsOn

Music Bands Live music 2026 Bandstand Cutts Close Oakham Rutland

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/summer-2026-music-at-cutts-close-park-oakham-bandstand-rutland

Oakham and Rutland  Sports and Fitness Events News

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/rutland-sports-and-fitness

Stay Connected with LGBTQ+ Gay Oakham Rutland News Events Advice and Support

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/OakhamandRutlandLGBTQ

Road Closures Rutland Highways 

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/RutlandTravelUpdates

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Job Vacancies Oakham Rutland

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