Bloxham Plan receives massive support in vote

Last Thursday, November 3, electors within the neighbourhood plan area voted on the question: “Do you want Cherwell District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Bloxham to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood area?”

The result was heavily in favour with 877 electors voting “yes” and just 26 voting “no”.

Cllr Colin Clarke, Cherwell’s lead member for planning, said: “This was a very important decision for the people of Bloxham, and I am pleased that voters have spoken with a unified voice.

“The Neighbourhood Plan was designed by Bloxham residents to allow them to exert more influence over the future of the village, and they will soon be able to play a bigger part in deciding how to safeguard their heritage and how to deliver housing and infrastructure in future.

“The Plan will now be adopted by Cherwell District Council to help determine future planning applications in the village.”

The Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan will be adopted as part of Cherwell’s Statutory Development Plan at a meeting of Cherwell’s Executive on December 5.

This means it will be considered in determining planning applications in the parish.

The Plan identifies numerous goals which Bloxham residents would like to realise. They include: delivering the houses that the village needs; protecting and enhancing the village’s rural heritage; the promotion of economic vitality; and ensuring a safe, healthy and cohesive community.

The decision was made on a 32.4 per cent turn-out.