Village Votes to Accept Neighbourhood Plan

Published on: 25 Feb, 2018
Updated on: 27 Feb, 2018

Effingham residents have voted in favour of adopting their Neighbourhood Plan.

A referendum was held last week (February 22, 2018) at the King George V Village Hall, Browns Lane, Effingham. The results showed that of the 44%, of those eligible to vote, 93.5% voted in favour of adopting the Neighbourhood Plan. A total of 843 voted ‘Yes’ out of 902 votes cast.

Arnold Pindar

Parish Council Chairman Arnold Pindar said: “We are delighted with the result. This is a great moment for Effingham residents who have come out in great numbers to support the plan. The result will ensure that local people have a significant voice in planning issues.”

Liz Hogger, borough and parish councillor, added: “This is a significant result for Effingham. The scale of the turnout, one of the highest yet recorded for a Neighbourhood Plan, is an indication of the strength of support the plan has amongst Effingham residents, and reflects the importance local people place on conserving our environment for future generations.”

Parish Cllr Paula Moss, Chair of the Effingham Neighbourhood Plan Group said: “A great many people have worked hard over the last five years to make this plan a reality. It is a testimony to the passion and determination of residents that the plan secured such high levels of support.

“On behalf of the Neighbourhood Plan team I would like to thank all the people who worked with us to help shape the plan. It’s a great community plan and will help protect and conserve the things residents care most about in the village and wider parish for years to come.”

Effingham Residents Association wrote in their January 2018 Newsletter: “The EFFRA committee now fully supports the plan as the Examiner agreed with its [EFFRA’s] views and reduced the number of houses and the sites in line with its objections.

“The plan allows for around 50 new houses in Effingham up to 2030 with 20 on the three designated sites and the rest expected to come from windfall i.e. unplanned, and those already with planning approval.”