Neighbourhood Plan referendum - Thursday 10th June
By now you should know that there is going to be a referendum in Charlbury on Thursday 10th June to decide whether Charlbury’s Neighbourhood Plan is to be formally adopted but you may be asking yourself what this means and why it is important.
At the referendum you will be asked to answer the question: “Do you want West Oxfordshire District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Charlbury to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”
But what does this mean? If a majority vote “Yes”, WODC will have to make sure that planning applications in Charlbury comply with the policies of the Charlbury Neighbourhood Plan as well as national policies and those set out in the WO Local Plan. This will mean that, for the first time, a plan devised in Charlbury to meet the needs and aspirations of the town and community will have real legal weight.
The Neighbourhood Plan has been developed over several years by members of the local community to reflect the needs and aspirations of local people expressed through the town survey and many other consultation exercises. Many members of the community helped to bring these ideas together into a draft plan. A public consultation on this draft was held in Autumn 2019 with many detailed and constructive comments received from local residents and reflected in a revised plan. So, this is YOUR plan for YOUR town and community, and it deserves your support.
You can download and read the plan from the WODC website at https://westoxon.gov.uk/charlbury or read a copy in the Charlbury Community Centre. But in summary, the plan includes policies which seek to:
- Ensure that any development in Charlbury meets Charlbury’s needs – and that is mainly for affordable or lower-cost homes.
- Protect Charlbury’s town centre, businesses, community facilities and services.
- Promote safe walking and cycling routes and support public transport.
- Protect our natural environment, landscape and green spaces.
- Secure a net gain in biodiversity.
- Protect our historic environment, and last but not least:
- Address the challenges of the climate emergency at a local level.
That’s why this referendum is important: Please use your vote!
Wed 2 Jun 2021, 11:38 · Link