It’s Referendum Day

Please vote - Your vote is important

Titchfield residents go to the polls today to vote in a referendum about the Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan.

Residents will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question: ‘Do you want Fareham Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Titchfield to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

If more than 50 per cent vote ‘yes’, then Fareham Borough Council will ‘make’ the TNP. Once made, the planning aspects from the TNP will be used to help determine planning applications in Titchfield. If more people vote ‘no’ than ‘yes’ then the Neighbourhood Plan will not be made part of the statutory Local Plan for the Fareham Borough.

You can vote at the polling station in Titchfield Community Centre for the referendum today.

Residents are entitled to vote in the Referendum if they are eligible to vote in a local government election and if they live in the referendum area – which is identical to the area which has been designated as the Titchfield Neighbourhood Area.

Cllr Keith Evans, Executive Member for Planning and Development, said: “This is the first time we have had a Referendum in the Fareham Borough and it is essential we hear the views of the people of Titchfield.”

The results, which are expected to be announced tomorrow (Friday) around noon, will be published here as soon as we are informed by Fareham.

READ MORE HERE

New consultation for future development in Fareham

As well as being asked to vote on the Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan residents are being encouraged to have their say on future development in Fareham Borough in general.

Click HERE to read about the Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan and Referendum.

A special Fareham Today is available on the Council’s website outlining issues and options for its emerging Local Plan. The consultation will run from Monday 10 June until 23:59 on Friday 26 July.

Since the Council consulted residents on its Draft Local Plan in 2017, the Government has announced a new way to calculate housing need. As a result Fareham now needs to plan for at least 520 new houses every year.

This new figure means more space needs now needs to be found, so the Council has outlined a number of ways this could be achieved, whilst considering the environment and both existing and new infrastructure, through a series of issues and options. It is now asking Fareham residents and businesses for their views.

The Council will hold a series of pop up exhibitions in the coming weeks where residents can come along and ask questions. The consultation will also be on the agenda at Community Action Team (CAT) meetings being hosted by Cllr Seán Woodward and supported by planning officers.

Councillor Seán Woodward, Leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: ‘Government changes to the National Planning Policy Framework mean we now have to plan for many more houses in Fareham. We are asking residents and businesses to tell us how they would prefer us to deliver these houses. I would encourage them to come along to a CAT meeting or exhibition where planning officers will be on hand to answer questions, and to read through the special Fareham Today. A printed copy will be delivered to houses and businesses over the next couple of weeks.’

• The pop-up exhibitions will take place from 12:00pm-2:00pm

• Locks Heath Shopping Centre, Thursday 13 June

• Portchester Shopping Precinct, Wednesday 19 June

• Fareham Town Centre, Monday 24 June

• Stubbington Green, Monday 1 July

Community Action Team (CAT) meetings run from 7:00pm-8:30pm and will be preceded by an exhibition from 2:30pm-6:00pm staffed by planning officers.

• Holly Rood Church, Stubbington, Monday 8 July

• Cams Hill School, Portchester, Tuesday 9 July

• The Garage Room, Titchfield Community Centre, Friday 12 July

• Ferneham Hall, Fareham, Monday 15 July

• Brookfield School, Sarisbury Green, Tuesday 16 July

Residents and workers in the Borough can have their say by:

• Completing an online comments form at: Have Your Say on Future Development in Fareham

• For more information about the Local Plan see Fareham Borough Council’s website here

• Emailing localplanconsultation@fareham.gov.uk

• Writing to Consultation Team, Fareham Borough Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Fareham PO16 7AZ