Highcliffe and Walkford residents given chance to vote over adoption of Neighbourhood Plan

A REFERENDUM will be held in Highcliffe next month over a plan to shape the community’s future development.

If Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan wins the support of local residents, it will be considered by BCP Council when deciding on planning applications for the area.

Although not binding, the finished document will contain guidelines that developers and planners must give regard to.

It can also unlock thousands of pounds of extra funding.

Following public consultation, the plan has focused on a range of issues identified by residents, including the vitality of the high street, on-street parking, green spaces, local amenities and housing.

One of the top priorities highlighted was the need to revitalise the high street which, like many others since the pandemic, is struggling.

Residents felt there were too many charity shops and not enough cafes and restaurants, said the plan, and the volume of traffic and “run-down feel of the street environment” was holding it back.

“The High Street typically has between 16,000 and 30,000 vehicles using it in any day,” stated the plan. “Many people use the on-street parking as it is convenient and free, with vehicles consequently waiting to get into or out of spaces.”

Suggestions to bolster the space included the replacement of signalised pedestrian crossings with zebra crossings, the removal of on-street parking, widening the pavements, and additional cycle parking.

A lack of cycle lanes in the parish was highlighted by locals, with concerns there were no alternative routes to bypass roads carrying heavy traffic.

“At present some of those who do cycle opt to use the pavements to avoid the danger of the busier roads,” said the document. “This can cause problems for pedestrians.”

While dedicated cycle paths were not feasible on the main roads through the centres of Highcliffe and Walkford due to how narrow they are, it was pointed out it may be feasible to create signposted link routes through various other streets.

Taking care of the parish’s green spaces was another pressing objective, and at the end of 2020 the parish council consulted on which areas they most valued.

“This indicated that the vast majority of local residents value all of the areas proposed by the council to be designated as Local Green Spaces,” stated the plan.

Cllr Bob Hutchings, chair of Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council, urged residents to come out and vote.

“After three plus years of hard slog, we do now have a final Neighbourhood Plan that is vitally important for the future of development control in the parish,” he said.

The referendum will take place on Thursday 15th December, with polling stations open from 7am-10pm.

BCP Council will be sending out polling cards from 10th November to those eligible to vote.