More on the Referendum

Yesterday's Audlem Neighbourhood Plan Referendum result showed 96.75% voted 'Yes' meaning it will play its role in planning decisions. A simple majority of those voting would have been sufficient but it was clearly backed by a resounding majority.

The hope, as expressed in Audlem Parish Council's announcement of the result, is that "it will really make a difference in helping future development to be gradual, well planned and managed, rather than developer-led."

As a number of Chatbox comments have noted, the turnout was 42%. (This, we have now learnt from the official Cheshire East announcement was actually almost 43%) While this was very much in line with Bunbury's Neighbourhood Plan Referendum turnout (43.7%) it was somewhat lower than Brereton's earlier this year at 51%. Perhaps the timing of Audlem's poll a day before the Easter holiday had an impact.

Audlem's 'Yes" vote of 96.75% was marginally higher than Bunbury's 96.3% and Brereton's 95.6% but all three Cheshire East villages who have voted in a referendum have shown very strong support for their Neighbourhood Plans.

It will now be very important to watch how planning applications are considered, particularly after the immense amount of work that has gone into creating and then approving Audlem's Neighbourhood Plan.

We are sure many will be monitoring closely the plan's impact on the decision-making process by Cheshire East's planners and planning committees and at any subsequent appeals to the Planning Inspectorate.

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