Vote is your opportunity to shape future of town

SHEPTON Mallet residents are being handed a powerful opportunity to shape the future of their town, as the long-awaited Neighbourhood Plan heads to a public referendum on July 17.

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Coinciding with the local elections, the vote will determine whether the proposed plan - developed by and for the community - becomes a legally binding part of the area's development framework.

The Shepton Mallet Neighbourhood Plan is a document that sets out planning policies for Shepton Mallet and its civil parish.

These policies are used to decide whether to approve or reject planning applications including future housing developments.

It has been developed over more than 10 years and has been through several rounds of public consultation. It sets out how the town could grow sustainably over the next decade. If passed, it will give the community direct influence over any proposed future housing developments, green space protections, transport infrastructure, and the town centre regeneration.

Councillor Matt Harrison, spokesperson for the Neighbourhood Plan team, said: “Everything in this plan really matters to our town, after over a decade of consultation and revision, residents now have the final say in whether it goes ahead. If you support it, you must vote for it. If not, this is your chance to reject it - but your vote is crucial either way.”