WESTBURY town councillors are encouraging people to vote in the referendum over whether to approve the Westbury Neighbourhood Plan, which will be held on Thursday 14th March.
Neighbourhood plans enable local people to identify a shared vision and common goals for their area, which have legal status in the planning system. Polling cards are being sent to residents by Wiltshire Council, which will explain where the nearest polling station is located.
Although the neighbourhood plan cannot prevent housing development, if the plan is in place, it can set out what the town expects from any new development, what needs to be protected and what is needed.
Westbury Town Council explained, “The neighbourhood plan will give the residents of Westbury more control on where housing is built, more control on the type and size of houses built, more control on the look of future building, more protection for green spaces and more money to be invested in the town by the town.
“If people vote in favour, the plan will give Westbury a strong voice in deciding the future of development. The new housing planned at Sandhole Lane is a good example, the Planning Inspector said if a neighbourhood plan had been in place, he would have had to take it into account and therefore it could have stopped the development.
“We have undertaken many weeks of consultation with residents and others in the run up to finalising the draft and getting it approved by the Independent Examiner and as a result, for example, there are now no new housing sites in the plan.
“An adopted neighbourhood plan will also mean the town will get a greater share of future Community Infrastructure Levy from any new developments; this money will come directly to Westbury rather than being absorbed by Wiltshire Council. This money can then be used by the town to improve the infrastructure by investing in, for example, our High Street, sports facilities, public toilets parks and green spaces and other local amenities.
“On March 14th, the people of Westbury will be able to vote for or against the neighbourhood plan.”
WGAG, the Westbury group who campaigned for the waste incinerator not to be built in the town, say the neighbourhood plan should make reference to the incinerator. However, town councillors have explained that this is not possible as the plan is only relevant for decisions going forward.
Westbury Town Council explained, “There has been a lot of misinformation circulating about this and the town council has been asked to clarify the facts to ensure everyone knows what voting one way or the other means and to encourage people to exercise their right to vote. The neighbourhood plan is for the next decade and it cannot look back and undo previous decisions, such as the unwanted incinerator.”
In the referendum, residents will be asked to vote Yes or No to the question “Do you want Wiltshire Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Westbury to help it decide planning applications in the Westbury neighbourhood are?”
If you are unable to vote in person and you need to vote by proxy, find out more information at https://shorturl.at/jHNP0 There is also a summary of the plan. To see the full plan, go to www.westburytowncouncil.gov.uk/dept/neighbourhood-plan/
Alternatively, paper copies of the neighbourhood plan can be seen at Westbury Library, Leigh Park Community Centre or the Laverton (town council offices) in Bratton Road.
