Polling cards for Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan have started to drop through residents’ letterboxes in preparation of the Adoption Referendum on Thursday 24th March. The referendum is the culmination of nearly 2 years work by a group of Sandbach Town Councillors and Community representatives.
The Neighbourhood Development Plan for Sandbach has already gone through two phases of public consultation. The initial consultation took place in September 2014 when the 1st Phase Questionnaire found out what residents liked/disliked about Sandbach and how they wanted to protect or change it.
The second consultation occurred in January 2015 with another household questionnaire. This questionnaire focussed on how residents wanted to protect or change Sandbach and its environment.
The policies contained within the final Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan have been produced as a result of the second phase questionnaire and subsequent public consultations. They are based on resident responses and aim to protect the good things about Sandbach and improve the not so good things.
The final part -The Referendum Stage- is the third consultation phase in the production of the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan and gives residents the opportunity to confirm that they agree with the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan policies.
The Referendum Question will be:-
“Do you want Cheshire East Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Sandbach to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”
With the choice to vote YES or NO.
If at least 50% of referendum voters vote YES then the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan becomes a legal reference document that will have to be referred to alongside Cheshire East Council’s Local Plan as part of the local planning process.
A leaflet containing a synopsis of the policies and explaining when and where to vote is being delivered to all households commencing 5th March.
CLICK BELOW to download a copy of the leaflet here.
SandbachTownCouncil_Referendum_8pg_v3
Full details of the Sandbach Neighbourhood Plan policies can be found at
http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/planning/neighbourhood_plans/sandbach-neighbourhood-plan.aspx
Paper copies are available for viewing at Sandbach Library, Sandbach Town Council offices in the Literary Institution and Cheshire East Council offices, Westfields.
