Colyton to go to the polls on Neighbourhood Plan after six years in the making

A referendum on Colyton's Neighbourhood Plan will be held in December and, if adopted, will help shape developments in the area for the next decade.

The document, produced by Colyton Parish Council with the help of the community over the course of six years, will be used as a reference when planning applications are considered by East Devon District Council (EDDC).

The referendum will be held on December 2 at Colyton Town Hall and Colyford Memorial Hall.

Voters will be asked to consider the following question: "Do you want East Devon District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Colyton Parish to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"

If more people vote 'yes' than 'no', then EDDC will make the plan and it will become part of the statutory development plan for East Devon, holding legal weight in decisions.

This would also officially mean that 60 per cent of East Devon is covered by local neighbourhood plans.

The document is the culmination of more than six years of work by volunteers from the local community and has resulted in several fall-outs in the council chamber.

It seeks to ensure that the parish retains its character, natural beauty and vibrancy and is '"a uniquely characterful and caring place to live and work".

Further information and a copy of the plan can be found here.

Should the referendum be successful, it will be the twenty-third neighbourhood plan to be adopted in East Devon, taking neighbourhood plan coverage to well over 50 per cent of the total district population

Councillor Dan Ledger, EDDC's portfolio holder for strategic planning, said: "I would like to congratulate all those involved in helping to develop this plan which has been six years in the making!

"Neighbourhood plans are community led and help create a 'community vision for the area' which is made from what residents tell us they want and what their priorities are – like cycle paths, promoting transport needs, protecting heritage sites and much more.

"I can't encourage the Colyton community enough to turn out and vote on this neighbourhood plan."

All residents eligible to vote in the area to ensure they are registered, and to turn out to vote on the day.

A person is entitled to vote in the referendum if they are entitled to vote in a local government election in the referendum area; and, their qualifying address for the election is in the referendum area.

All information relating to the referendum is available to view on EDDC's neighbourhood planning webpages.

Hard copies of the referendum documentation are also available on request, and can also be viewed at the District Council Offices at Blackdown House, Honiton (by prior arrangement only), or locally at Colyton Library.