On Thursday 27th February 2025 a referendum will be held, asking the people of Calne Town and Calne Without Council areas to vote to approve the second edition of the Calne Community Neighbourhood Plan (CCNP). Back in 2018, 93.1% of the people of Calne voted yes to the first edition of the plan, which looked ahead to 2026. The second edition of the plan looks ahead to 2038. How you vote or if you vote is up to you, but I would ask you all to consider voting YES and supporting the plan. Below is why.
What areas does the Plan cover?
The CCNP covers the following areas. Backland, Broads Green, Calne, Capstone, Derry Hill, High Penn, Lower Compton, Mile Elm, Ratford, Sandy Lane, Stockley, and Studley
What are the benefits if the Plan is voted in by you the people
The CCNP will NOT stop development or house building. But what it will do, is allow the community to have a voice on.
- Where they are built
- Type and size of building
- What the development looks like
- Community benefits to be provided as part of a development
The CCNP also designates and protects twenty-seven new local green spaces, which includes.
- Wider area of Castle fields park
- Lavender drive play area
- Protection of existing allotments
- The Green
What are the negatives if the plan is rejected
- Potential for unrestricted house building and development, without any say on location, size etc and no community benefit. This is what has happened in Chippenham, Melksham and Bowerhill
- Only 15% of the CIL funding, reducing the amount available to Calne Town and Parish Council areas, or funding for projects coming out of your council tax.
- No protection for allotments, and other green spaces, such as Lavender Drive, The Green and Castlefields extension.
- Potential for existing green spaces, such as Priestley Grove field and the Recreation Ground, to have protection withdrawn when current plan expires in 2026.
How should you vote
How you vote, is of course up to you. You can vote Yes or No, spoil your vote, or not bother at all. That is your choice in a Democracy. I would however implore you to vote YES.