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Trawden residents set to vote on Neighbourhood Plan
Published: Tuesday, 9th October 2018
Trawden
Residents will be given the chance to vote on whether to adopt the Trawden Forest Neighbourhood Plan in a referendum in November.
The Plan has been approved by an independent examiner and if given the thumbs up by voters in the Parish of Trawden Forest, it will be the first Neighbourhood Plan to be adopted in Pendle.
The Plan would then become legal planning policy in Trawden Forest. This means any new developments in Trawden, Cotton Tree, Winewall, Wycoller and surrounding countryside would have to meet the requirements set out in the Plan.
Neil Watson, Planning, Building Control and Licensing Manager, said: “The Plan was prepared by a working group set up by Trawden Forest Parish Council.
“It’s been consulted on widely and we’ve been grateful for the opportunity they’ve given us to help them produce it.
“This referendum is about providing local residents with an opportunity to influence how their area will develop over the next 12 years through the Neighbourhood Plan.
“If adopted, planning officers would refer to the Plan when considering any applications for planning permission.”
On Thursday 8 November residents living in the Neighbourhood Area will be asked:
Do you want Pendle Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Trawden Forest to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area?
A simple majority of the votes cast will see the Plan either adopted or rejected.
The Plan sets out nine priorities which address a wide range of issues. It also allocates five sites for new housing which will provide a range of quality new homes in the area.
Councillor Paul White, Leader of Pendle Council, said: “I commend Trawden Forest Parish Council on their excellent, trailblazing work.
“In July 2016 the Parish Council asked Pendle Council to formally designate the Parish as a neighbourhood area so they could prepare a Neighbourhood Plan.
“Whilst welcoming new development, above all the Plan has sought to preserve the local character of the villages and hamlets in the area and protect the open countryside from inappropriate development.”
The full Plan is available to download from Pendle Council’s website - www.pendle.gov.uk/trawdenforestnp
Copies of the Plan and supporting documents are available to view at:
- Trawden Forest Parish Office, Unit 2A Black Carr Mill, Skipton Road, Trawden, BB8 8QU
- Trawden Forest Community Centre, Church Street, Trawden, BB8 8RZ
- Colne Library, Market Street, Colne, BB8 0AP
- Number One Market Street, Nelson, BB9 7LJ
Voting in the referendum will be similar to voting in Pendle Council elections.
To be eligible to vote you must live in the Trawden Forest area and be on the electoral register by Tuesday 23 October.
You can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Voting will take place on Thursday 8 November 2018 from 7am-10pm at Trawden Forest Community Centre, Church Street, Trawden, BB8 8RZ.
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