ROTHERWICK residents have voted in support of proposals to guide future development in the parish.

As if 2016 hadn’t already had its fair share of referendums, on November 3 a referendum on the Rotherwick Neighbourhood Plan was held with almost 250 residents turning out to vote.

Just over 55 per cent of Rotherwick residents voted, with 231 out of 249 voting in favour of the plan, which is intended to give communities more of a say in the development of their local area.

It was the first in Hart District to reach referendum.

Speaking about the result, Steve Burridge, chairman of Rotherwick Parish Council, said: “This result shows the impact that local communities can have over the future of their area. I would like to thank the members of our Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, in particular the chair Stuart Kennedy, for all their hard work.

“We now look forward to the plan being formally adopted by the district council.”

The parish council and the local community spent two years developing the plan which will now be considered by the district council in December, where once it has been adopted it will be used to help determine development proposals in the parish.

Stephen Parker, leader of Hart District Council said: “Neighbourhood Plans provide an opportunity for local communities to steer the future of their local area.

“Rotherwick are to be commended for the effort that it has taken to produce a plan that is so clearly supported by local residents, and congratulated for the first Neighbourhood Plan in Hart.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

To see if your area is in the process of developing or adopting a plan visit www.hart.gov.uk/towns-parishes.