Local referendums on both the Warkworth and Eglingham Neighbourhood Plans will take place this July and all residents in the parishes who are registered to vote will be able to have a say.   

The Warkworth referendum will take place on Thursday 11 July, and the Eglingham referendum will take place a week later on Thursday 18 July. 

Each Parish Council has held formal and informal consultation on their Neighbourhood Plans, and the Referendums are the final stage in the Plans’ preparation. 

Residents will be asked whether they want Northumberland County Council to use the Plans in future to help decide planning applications in the Parishes. 

If a majority of residents vote in favour of the Plans, they will be used by officers at Northumberland County Council to help make decisions on planning applications in the Parishes. 

 

A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said: 

 

“Neighbourhood planning enables communities to play a much stronger role in shaping the areas in which they live and work and in influencing the location and design of development proposals.  
 
“We therefore hope people will participate in these referendums and take the time to cast their vote so we can be sure the policies contained in the Neighbourhood Plans are right for these parishes.” 

 

The Warkworth and Eglingham Neighbourhood Plans and accompanying documents can be viewed on the County Council’s Neighbourhood Planning website at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/ourplan 

 
The referendums will run in the same way as a local election, with all those eligible to vote receiving a polling card, and the options of postal and proxy voting being available to those who are registered.   
 

The polls will take place from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 11 July (Warkworth) and Thursday 18 July (Eglingham) and residents will find details of which polling station to attend on their polling card.  This year, under new legislation voters will need to show appropriate photographic ID if voting in person at the polling station.  
 

Accepted forms of ID include: a photocard driving licence (full or provisional), passport, concessionary travel pass, such as an older person’s bus pass, or blue badge.  Voters will be able to use expired photo ID, as long as it remains a good enough likeness for the polling station staff to be able to identify the voter.  The photo ID should be the original version and not a copy.    
 

A full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for free voter ID, at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.