Devon Live reported last week about the final step for the Neighbourhood Plan:
Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan to go to referendum
The Herald now gives us the actual date – plus a word from the chair of the Plan’s steering group:
Referendum date set for Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan
A referendum to decide whether to adopt a neighbourhood plan which will help shape the Sid Valley for the next 20 years will take place in September.
Residents across the area are being called upon to take part in the referendum on Thursday, September 19.
What is a neighbourhood plan?
· A community-led planning document that will influence development in your area over two decades.
· It gives the community a voice in decision making.
· Once adopted, the policies become part of the development plan (holding legal weight in decisions).
· The Local Plan covers the district, a neighbourhood plan covers a specific neighbourhood.
· 25 per cent of the Community Infrastructure Levy money for adopted plans will be given to the town
Deirdre Hounsom, chair of the Sid Valley Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group says. “The neighbourhood planning process has taken three years. The final stage requires a vote in a referendum to make the plan legal.
“The question on the voting paper is: Do you want East Devon District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for the Sid Valley to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”