THE first Neighbourhood Plan referendum in Taunton Deane is set to go ahead in May after more than three years’ hard work by the community in Bishops Lydeard and Cothelstone.
The referendum, due to coincide with elections for the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner on May 5, will give people in the parish their chance to vote for or against the plan.
Work on the plan began with grass roots information gathering with questionnaires for residents as well as exhibitions and data collection.
This was followed by studies on topics from green spaces and transport to housing and infrastructure.
Planning policies were drafted and issued for consultations involving local people and statutory organisations such as Somerset County Council, the Environment Agency and Natural England.
The draft plan was then submitted to Taunton Deane Borough Council for further consultation before being considered by independent examiner John Mattocks who has just reported back on his findings.
His report recommended – subject to minor amendments – that the plan should now progress to a local referendum.
All those in the neighbourhood plan area – Bishops Lydeard and Cothelstone parish – who are eligible to vote can have their say in the referendum.
The council aims to hold this concurrently with the Police and Crime Commissioners elections on May 5.
If the majority vote in favour, the plan will be eligible to be adopted by the council as local planning policy.