Stratford-on-Avon District's thirteenth neighbourhood plan referendum will take place on Thursday 29 November, when voters in Harbury parish will go to the polls to respond to the question: "Do you want Stratford-on-Avon District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Harbury and Deppers Bridge to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"
To vote in this referendum residents of the parish of Harbury must be registered to vote at local government elections and be 18 or over on the day of poll.
The polling stations, which will be open from 7am to 10pm, will be at The Village Hall, South Parade, Harbury, CV33 9JE.
The counting of the votes will be held immediately after the close of poll at the Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HX.
To check you are on the Electoral Register and eligible to vote or to register please contact the District Council's Electoral Services on 01789 260208 no later than 13 November 2018.
The Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Plan was independently examined between May 2018 and July 2018 and the Examiner recommended that, subject to some proposed modifications, the Plan should proceed to referendum.
At The Cabinet meeting on 8 October 2018 Councillors agreed to progress the Plan to the next stage and go to referendum.
The referendum will be asking whether the community wish to see the District Council use the Neighbourhood Plan to decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area (which is based on the Parish boundary).
In accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning (Referendum) Regulations 2012 (as amended) the Local Planning Authority must publicise the referendum for a minimum of 28 working days prior to the date of the referendum.
A number of documents (referred to as 'specified documents' in the Regulations) have been produced in order to help with the voting process. These specified documents can be viewed on the District Council's website on the page dedicated to the Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Plan at https://www.stratford.gov.uk/harburynp
Alternatively, these documents may be inspected at:
- The District Council offices at Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HX, during normal opening hours - Monday - Wednesday 8.45am to 5.15pm and Thursday - Friday 8.45am to 5pm.
- Stratford-upon-Avon Library, 12 Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6PZ. Opening hours - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm.
- Harbury Library, The Wight School, High Street, Harbury, Leamington Spa, CV33 9HW.Opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 12noon.
- Southam Library and One Stop Shop, Tithe Place, High Street, Southam CV47 0HB. Opening hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm and Saturday 9.30am to 12.30pm.
- Harbury Parish Council Offices, 2 Bull Ring Business Centre, Church Terrace, Harbury CV33 9HL. Opening hours Monday to Thursday 10am to 12noon.
Neighbourhood planning is a key component of the Government's Localism Act, introducing a new tier of planning. The Localism Act devolves greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods, giving local people new rights to shape the development of the communities in which they live by taking a more active role in the development of planning policy at a local level.
The Act makes it clear that a Neighbourhood Plan will have to generally conform to the Development Plan produced by the District Council.
