RESIDENTS in Medstead and neighbouring Four Marks are being urged to take the opportunity next month to cast their vote in the referendum to adopt the joint neighbourhood plan.

The May 5 referendum will coincide with the election for Hampshire’s new police and crime commissioner.

Described by the neighbourhood plan steering group as “a significant date in the history of our villages”, local votes are needed to support the adoption of the local neighbourhood plan – an act that requires a simple majority of the voting ward electors.

Should this be achieved, as the local planning authority, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) will then be mandated to use the neighbourhood plan in evaluation planning applications in Medstead and Four Marks.

According to steering group chairman Nick Stenning, following countless examinations, consultation and modifications, the final version of the Medstead and Four Marks Neighbourhood Plan was passed by EHDC on February 25 and, if given a vote of confidence by residents, should bring considerable benefit to the community over the next few years.

Mr Stenning explained that not only has the plan defined the settlement policy boundaries for Medstead village, South Medstead and Four Marks, but it has also created a ‘local gap’ to protect the area between South Medstead and Medstead village from development.

In addition, it has sought to protect employment sites from significant change of use for a year, should businesses fail; to support local centres within the two villages, including the local shopping facilities; to encourage commercial development in the area with the Railway Hub (Mid Hants Railway heritage line); to give protection to 12 areas of green space in Medstead and Four Marks, and to promote a wild flower walk; to promote a green infrastructure network for the benefit of the community; to support the consideration of green infrastructure and biodiversity in any new development; and to promote sustainable drainage on major developments.

The neighbourhood plan for Four Marks and South Medstead re-emphasises the fact that EHDC’s joint core strategy (local plan) allocates a minimum of 175 dwellings for the area to the year 2028. Permission has already been granted for 237 new homes on three sites in Lymington Bottom Road and Boyneswood Road, plus there are an additional 79 new dwellings on sites not allocated in the plan.

Having “significantly exceeded” the overall joint core strategy requirement, the neighbourhood plan does not therefore include housing allocations, stating: “Indeed, any significant further increase could begin to conflict with the joint core strategy in terms of the scale and distribution of development between settlements.”

It is expected the neighbourhood plan will be used to fight further large-scale applications, such as the latest application by Shaley Homes Ltd to build up to 68 new homes on an unallocated four-acre site on Blackberry Lane, Four Marks.

At the referendum on May 5, residents will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the neighbourhood.

In encouraging people to exercise their right to vote, steering group secretary Frank Maloney said: “We urge you to help to protect your village by voting ‘yes’ to the question ‘Do you want East Hampshire District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Medstead and Four Marks to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’”

The plan can be viewed at easthants.gov.uk or hard copies are available at The Parish Office, Lymington Barns; St Andrew’s Church, Medstead; Church of the Good Shepherd, Four Marks; the Watercress and Boundaries Surgeries; and Alton library.