Do you live in the parish of Melton? Vote in the Neighbourhood Plan referendum
On 7th December 2017, residents of the parish of Melton will be invited to vote on their Neighbourhood Plan, being asked the question:
"Do you want Suffolk Coastal District Council to use
the neighbourhood plan for Melton
to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"
If you live in the parish, make sure that you vote -- either by post (if you have a postal vote) or in person at the Burness Parish Rooms. Why is it important to take part in this exercise of local democracy? Because the neighbourhood plan really matters.
For example, the controversial Woods Lane development, which was opposed by locals, by the parish council, and by the district council, was passed on appeal in part because there was no neighbourhood plan in place*. The knock-on effects of long-term road closure during the building phase of this very large development, and the inevitable traffic overload after completion, will be sorely felt by the village and the surrounding area. Leaving the village without a neighbourhood plan exposes Melton to similar roughshod treatment in the future.
The final version of the Melton Neighbourhood Plan, which the parish council seeks to implement, is available here. Other relevant documents prepared during the five-year development period leading up to this final verison can be found here.
Source:
* "News from Melton Parish Council", Melton Messenger, November 2017
Melton Neighbourhood Plan, https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/1b2dbd_778ad74b326545878367caf391514f1c.pdf [accessed 08 November 2017]
http://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/assets/Elections/Election-notices-SCDC/2017/Melton-Neighbourhood-Planning-Referendum/Notice-of-Referendum.pdf [accessed 08 November 2017]
https://www.meltonneighbourhoodplan.co.uk/documents [accessed 08 November 2017]