Residents worry about 'voting blind' in referendum

Residents have raised concerns about "voting blind" in an upcoming referendum that could shape the future of their area's local development.

People in Northampton's Semilong and Trinity area have got the chance to cast a vote on whether they want West Northamptonshire Council to use their neighbourhood plan when assessing planning applications.

Resident John Atkinson said he was worried people would not vote on the plan as "they have no idea what they are voting on".

Neighbourhood plans are documents which set out the blueprint and decide how land should be used in the future - be it for housing, business use or green space.

The plan has been under development since 2017, when it was first designated by the now-defunct Northampton Borough Council, which has been replaced by the West Northants unitary council, which Reform UK won control of last month.

Consultation on the neighbourhood plan took place initially in 2020 and the council said it received feedback from 118 residents.

The plan document said that by 2038 Semilong and Trinity "will be a distinctive, vibrant neighbourhood which is making a significant contribution to the prosperity and diversity of Northampton".

It also delves into the delivery of new housing and says it will support applications where residential buildings "do not jeopardise the function of the area as a place of work, leisure and shopping".

Feedback from the community also demonstrated a preference for starter homes and private housing and low support for additional rented houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).

Mr Atkinson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he thought the plan looked great "but I'm guessing most people who got the polling card think 'what on earth's that?What's this plan? Bin it'.

"My view is that each resident should have received a copy of the plan, to help them decide how to vote."

However, a West Northamptonshire Council spokesperson said: "The Semilong and Trinity Neighbourhood Plan has been developed by Northampton Town Council and local community leaders over several years with public consultation throughout.

"We understand some residents were unaware of the plan.

"While poll cards don't include the full document, information has been shared via websites, public consultations, and local venues."

Farzana Aldridge, a newly elected Labour councillor to the Kingsley and Semilong ward, said she would hold meetings with residents to talk through the plan.

She added: "Residents did contact me regarding the Neighbourhood Plan and expressed their concerns about their insufficient information."

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