Grappenhall and Thelwall Neighbourhood Plan
WBC consultation closed, next stop: Independent Examination Since our last update, the Grappenhall and Thelwall Neighbourhood Plan has moved a big step closer to becoming reality! After we told you the Draft Plan had been submitted, Warrington Borough Council opened its own six-week public consultation on which is now completed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to have their say. So what happens next? Warrington Borough Council will collate all the responses from this consultation An Independent Examiner will be appointed to review the submitted Plan If the Examiner is satisfied, the Plan goes to a parish-wide referendum – where a majority “Yes” vote makes it officially ‘made’ Once ‘made’, the Plan carries real legal weight, meaning future development in Grappenhall and Thelwall must take it into account. As Sarah Barwell, Chair of the Steering Group, said “when it comes to the referendum, it’s important that people understand that voting to approve the Neighbourhood Plan is the best way for us to influence future development. There’s a commonly held misunderstanding that a vote against the Plan will stop development happening but that is simply not true. WBC, in their Local Plan, have approved 4,200 new homes which we can’t prevent being built. The benefit of having a Neighbourhood Plan is that we can have some influence about the types of homes being built, infrastructure, green and blue spaces and heritage assets such as Grappenhall Hall School”. So when the referendum comes it will be important for residents to vote yes – otherwise we risk losing our ability to influence new developments and to protect the character of our Parish. Stay up to date by following us on Facebook or Instagram, or visit www.gtnp.org.uk
