PEOPLE in Cleobury Mortimer will have the opportunity to vote whether or not to adopt a neighbourhood plan.

A referendum will be held on Thursday, December 7 to decide on this question: "Do you want Shropshire Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Cleobury Mortimer to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’"

A neighbourhood plan gives local communities an opportunity to have a direct impact on shaping their neighbourhood’s growth and development.

It first went out for public consultation in 2017, with the application approved by Shropshire Council's Cabinet the following year. 

Last June, Tony Burton was appointed as the independent examiner for the plan. He assessed it to decide if it met the basic conditions and could proceed to a referendum with modifications.

The amended plan went to Cabinet on October 18. 

Peter Blackburn, chairperson of the Cleobury Mortimer Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020 to 2038, said: "Cleobury Mortimer is a strong, independent minded and resilient community and so has embraced the opportunity to take control of planning for future development.

"A high level of engagement and participation has enabled the steering group to draw on a wide range of ideas in coming up with the plan. Fundamental to the Plan has been a detailed and aspirational vision for the future of the town that informed our policies and decision making.

"A guiding principal has been to accept the need for new housing balanced by economic development, but to do it in a way that provides the type of housing that we need whilst recognizing we are in a rural setting. From the outset, environmental reinforcement, a love of wildlife, trees and walking have all been constant themes."

The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, November 21 with applications for postal votes being accepted up until 5pm on Wednesday, November 22. 

Meanwhile, the deadline for proxy vote applications and voter authority certificate applications is 5pm on Wednesday, November 29.