Twyford and Finchampstead residents to vote on community vision

Residents of two Wokingham Borough parishes will have the final say on vision documents to help shape their communities for years to come.

Neighbourhood plans for Twyford and Finchampstead, which were prepared by their respective parish councils with input from the local community, are now both proceeding to local referendum.

Twyford’s will take place on Thursday, 6 July while Finchampstead’s, which was agreed to go to referendum by the council’s executive yesterday (29 June), will take place on Thursday, 7 September.

As with all neighbourhood plans, they help to guide the type and quality of development that comes forward in these areas to better reflect their communities' wishes.

Help to make development work for you

Both plans went through a six-week statutory public consultation during their drafting phase, with any representations raised considered by an independent examiner.

The examiner for both plans has subsequently deemed them fit to go forward for referendum.

Cllr Lindsay Ferris, executive member for planning and local plan, said: "Neighbourhood plans offer local residents a voice in helping to manage new development which comes forward in their area, so we encourage people to play their part in this process.

"The parish councils and volunteers have spent many hours producing plans to help reflect the unique character and circumstances of each parish and add value to how development is shaped.

"The more people who vote, the more these plans can truly be said to reflect residents' views, so please take the time to participate."

How to get involved – and why it matters

If the plans pass this final stage with more than 50 per cent of the vote they will be adopted or "made", meaning they will become part of the formal framework that helps the council decide planning applications in these parishes.

Residents can find out more about the referendum process, including how and where to vote and what happens next, on the council's neighbourhood plan page.

All the plan documents are available to view online, or residents can view hard copies at the council offices in Shute End, Wokingham, at Wokingham Library at Carnival Hub, or Twyford Library in Polehampton Close, Twyford.

Elsewhere in the borough…

A neighbourhood plan is also being drafted for Ruscombe parish, which the council recently completed a six-week public consultation on.

Feedback will go to an independent examiner to decide if it meets legal requirements, and recommend changes if needed, before the council decides whether it should also be put to referendum in due course.

Neighbourhood plans are already in place for Shinfield, Arborfield & Newland and Barkham parishes. Remenham, Hurst, Wokingham Without, Sonning, Charvil and Swallowfield parishes are also considering neighbourhood plans for their areas.