Westbourne neighbourhood plan made

The plan, which was designed to give locals a say in planning issues such as the provision of housing and the protection of green spaces, will now become part of the Development Plan for the Chichester district.

After being put out to a public referendum in July, the plan was made – brought into legal force – during a district council meeting on Tuesday (September 21).

The referendum on July 29 saw 330 people vote for the plan – 94 per cent of those who voted. The turnout was 19.35 per cent.

Susan Taylor, cabinet member for planning, said: “I would like to congratulate the residents of Westbourne parish on the results of the referendum because I know it’s been a very long process and they’ve had to deal with some issues completely outside their control – not least, of course, the [pandemic].