CAST YOUR VOTE: Northampton estate to hold neighbourhood plan referendum today

People living in Spring Boroughs are being encouraged to take part in the referendum today, by casting their ballot at the Castle Community Hub.

The neighbourhood plan, nearly three years in the making, will form a blueprint for all planning applications submitted in the Spring Boroughs area, but only if a majority of residents vote “yes” today.

The plan promises to make the estate a better place to live by making sure new homes built there are of good quality design and affordable; by encouraging developers to contribute to new community and play facilities, by creating better routes for pedestrians and cyclists and by enhancing open spaces there.

Clive Ireson, chairman of the group set up to draw up the plan in 2013, Springs Voice, has encouraged people to vote in favour of it.

He said: “If people vote yes the borough council will have to take note of the neighbourhood plan when any planning application is submitted.

“We hope that over 15 years we will be able to regenerate the area to make it more and more attractive to the people that live here.”

The Spring Boroughs neighbourhood plan is available to view on Northampton Borough Council’s website http://bit.ly/21lk927