Image demonstrating January Referendum for Humshaugh Neighbourhood Plan 

January Referendum for Humshaugh Neighbourhood Plan 

A local referendum on the Humshaugh Parish Neighbourhood Plan will take place on Thursday 23 January and all residents in the Parish who are registered to vote will be able to have a say on the Plan.   
 
The Parish Council has held formal and informal consultation on their Neighbourhood Plan and the Referendum is the final stage in the Plan’s preparation. 
 
Residents will be asked whether they want Northumberland County Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority to use the Plan in future to help decide planning applications in the Parish. 
 
The Humshaugh Neighbourhood Plan and accompanying documents may be viewed on the County Council’s Neighbourhood Planning website at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/ourplan 
 
If a majority of residents who vote in the referendums are in favour of the Plan, it will be used by officers at Northumberland County Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority to help make decisions on planning applications in the Parish. 
 
The referendum 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 poll will take place from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 23 January and people 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.  
Northumberland County Councillor, Colin Horncastle, Cabinet member for Looking after our Environment 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 this referendum and take the time to cast their vote so we can be sure the policies contained in the Neighbourhood Plan are right for this parish.” 
 
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.    
 
The 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. 
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