Neighbourhood Plan is a community-led effort

People in the mainly residential areas of Windsor will now be receiving their green polling cards for the referendum on May 6.

Some might be unclear what they are being asked to vote for.

We hope this will help.

The Windsor Neighbourhood Plan is the result of extensive consultations and tenacious efforts by many Windsor Neighbourhood Forum members and volunteers, including residents and business representatives, over more than six years.

It has been produced by Windsor people and not a political party.

It is primarily about what should get planning permission in the area.

It provides a local policy framework for planning decisions and has been legally tested through a robust process of consultations, drafting and revision, and examination for legality by an independent inspector.

The Plan is truly community led and pays regard to what is special about the area, and what local people told us they want to see, especially in terms of protection of open space, unique local heritage, encouraging high quality design and protecting views across Windsor.

Many residents will know that the Government is working on relaxing planning laws to make building easier, and therefore a Neighbourhood Plan is likely to be even more important. It cannot prevent development, but it can help to shape it, according to local preferences.

Along the way we have had a lot of support and we are grateful for all of it.

Technical support came from AECOM consultants and Locality, as well as from Borough Planning Policy Officers. Initial financial support came from RBWM and further grants from the Department of Communities and Local Government .

Community support came from local organisations such as the Windsor and

Eton Society, local churches, businesses and all of our volunteers.

We especially want to thank our stalwart committee, all of whom have given their time, extensive knowledge and expertise, over many hours of dark evenings and zooms, as volunteers for the love of Windsor. We are proud of what we have created and feel it will provide a good framework to assist officers and councillors in making planning decisions in Windsor for the future.

We hope that Windsor residents will support it and vote YES at the Referendum!

CLAIRE MILNE and JOHN BASTOW Windsor Neighbourhood Plan Group