But we still have work to do.
Yesterday we saw the whole Parish adopt the Neighbourhood plan. This was an important step in Warton Residents having a say in the development that happens in and around the village. At the bottom of this post is a diagram from the Neighbourhood plan setting out the Warton Site Allocation and most importantly the Development Boundary.
Whilst the adoption yesterday of the Neighbourhood Plan was not an official referendum on building developments in the village, many residents will know that the Warton Residents Association, and many other groups in the village were urging residents to VOTE YES. Voting yes to adopt the plan will help us fight back against developers, and especially the new predatory proposed development from Richborough, which would have a significant impact on the lives of people in the village.
But the plan didn’t just highlight a development boundary, it is an official document that recognises some of the challenges the village faces, for example:
Page 12, Section 3.3:
- “Since 2015 there have been five new housing developments and a sixth is in construction. This is significant development pressure on a small village and beyond planned allocations.“
- “There is no public transport to the doctors’ surgery in Dordon.”
Page 22, Section 4.8:
- “Warton is classified as a Category 4: Other Settlements with a development boundary. Policy LP2 sets out the development appropriate to each level of the settlement hierarchy.”
- NWLP Policy LP2 says (as summarised in Appendix 1 of the plan)
- “Future development will take place in accordance to the size of the settlement taken, with its range of services and facilities… This will mean that the majority of development will take place in the larger settlements, with more limited development in the smaller rural settlements…”
- This indicates that Category 4 settlements are intended for limited, small-scale development, proportionate to their size and facilities, and typically within their development boundaries.
There are many other elements within the plan than can help the village.
While turnout across Polesworth and Birchmoor was low (less than 1000 people voted) – we know that around 400 people voted in Warton, and maybe more. Congratulations all and thank you for those who leafleted, knocked on doors and otherwise encourage people to get out and vote!
