Residents of Ross-on-Wye eligible to vote have been receiving polling cards to take part in the forthcoming referendum which will be held on April 2nd to determine how the town wants future planning applications to be considered.

This is almost the culmination of a process which began in 2014 when the Ross Gazette first reported that ‘the people of Ross are going to be given the opportunity to directly shape local planning policy to be adopted by both Ross Town Council and Herefordshire Council.’

As explained in 2014, and in countless articles and letters published in the Ross Gazette since, Ross Town Council will still only have powers to comment on planning applications but deviating from the Neighbour Development Plan would be grounds for refusal.

The Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) was approved in late 2018 and this kick-started the consultation process leading to the referendum.

The question being asked at the 2020 referendum is: Do you want Herefordshire Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Ross-on-Wye to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?

A summary of the plan can be found on the Ross-on-Wye Town Council website and the full plan can also be viewed at the Town Council office or at Ross Library.