If a majority of those that vote in the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan referendum are in favour of the Plan, then it will be ‘made’ and become part of the Development Plan for East Devon

Sidmouth Town Council has produced a neighbourhood plan in consultation with the community, which includes policies that will influence how planning applications are determined until 2031. The plan is the culmination of over three year’s hard work by volunteers from the local community.

On 19 September 2019, a referendum will be held for the town of Sidmouth, which will ask voters to consider the following question ‘”Do you want East Devon District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Sidmouth to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”.

If more people vote yes than no in this referendum, then East Devon District Council will ‘make’ the plan and it will become part of the development plan for East Devon. A person is entitled to vote in the referendum if, on 19 September 2019, he or she is entitled to vote in a local government election in the referendum area; and, his or her qualifying address for the election is in the referendum area.

All information relating to the referendum can be found on the East Devon website.

The polling stations will be: Dance Studio (by the Unitarian Church), May Terrace, Sidmouth; St Francis Hall, Bennetts Hill, Sidmouth; Primley United Reformed Church Hall, Primley Road, Sidmouth; St Teresa`s Hall, Connaught Road, Sidmouth; Parish Room, Ridgeway, Sidbury; Sidford Social Hall, Byes Lane, Sidford; St Teresa`s Hall, Connaught Road, Sidmouth; St Francis Hall, Bennetts Hill, Sidmouth.

The hours of poll will be from 7am to 10pm.

Further information and a copy of the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan can be found on the East Devon website

East Devon is keen to encourage all residents eligible to vote in the area to turn out to vote on the day. Should the referendum be successful, it will be the 17th neighbourhood plan to be adopted in East Devon, taking neighbourhood plan coverage to over 50% of the total district population.

Cllr Bruce de Saram, Lead Councillor for Neighbourhood Planning, said:

It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group on reaching the referendum stage for their Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan is the culmination of 3 years’ effort by local volunteers working alongside members of the town council and represents a genuine commitment to Sidmouth Parish’s future. The Steering Group should be applauded for engaging with a wide spectrum of age groups through extensive community consultation that included the establishment of a Young People’s Advisory Group. I hope that residents will read the Neighbourhood Plan and take their opportunity to influence the future of Sidmouth by voting at the referendum on the 19 September.