9 October 2018 - PRESS RELEASE

Tue 9th October

PRESS RELEASE

9 October 2018

It is time for Stratford upon Avon Residents to vote on the town’s future…

The Stratford-upon-Avon Neighbourhood Plan (NDP) was independently examined last year, 2017, and the Examiner recommended that subject to some minor modifications, which were subsequently addressed, the Plan should proceed to Referendum. 

At their Cabinet meeting on 8 October, Stratford on Avon District Council endorsed the Plan and confirmed that the Referendum will be held on Thursday 29 November, 2018.  Registered electors in Stratford-upon-Avon will have the opportunity to vote ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ to the following question:

Do you want Stratford on Avon District Council to use the Neighbourhood Development Plan for Stratford-upon-Avon to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?

If more than 50% of those voting support the NDP, it will be adopted by Stratford on Avon District Council and will become legally binding.

The town’s eagerly awaited NDP has been seven years in the making and is as a result of the hard work and dedication of a diversity of stalwart volunteers, all of whom care passionately about the town.  The Plan that has emerged will improve the quality of the town’s future development.  It will also protect the town’s heritage and green spaces and seeks to ensure that infrastructure is in place before any development takes place.  Importantly, as a direct result of a ‘yes’ vote, the town will receive substantially more money, between now and 2031, which will be spent on the needs of the town, not the wider district. 

Councillor John Bicknell, Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon said, "Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council joins me in paying tribute to every individual who played a part, large or small, in bringing this Plan to fruition, but particularly those on the management team of the Steering Group, so ably led by their Chairman, Mark Haselden." 

Mark Haselden said, “I am delighted that the Neighbourhood Plan is progressing to referendum.  Not only is it an opportunity to make sure money is spent on the town rather than elsewhere in the district, once adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan will be legally binding and will make people focus more on local issues, such as congestion, infrastructure and the type of housing needed, before new developments are approved.  A lot of recent housing schemes have been developer-led which does not always result in the best solution.  A Neighbourhood Plan is a powerful tool which Councillors can use to challenge inappropriate development.”

In the run up to the Referendum the people of Stratford-upon-Avon will have the opportunity to learn more about how the Plan will help the town’s future planning and development by visiting one of the road show events or from the special edition of ‘Bridging the Gap’, the Town Council’s newsletter, which will be arriving through the post. 

All information about the planned road shows and to find out more about the Neighbourhood Development Plan visit www.stratford-tc.gov.uk or www.ourstratford.org.uk ï»¿