NORTHWICH residents have for the first time an opportunity to influence how Northwich will be developed during the next 15 years and beyond.

This is because Northwich Town Council took the opportunity created by the change in National Planning Policy to allowing neighbourhoods to adopt a Neighbourhood Plan for Northwich.

Through public meetings engaging the wider community a number of volunteers who brought a range of experience and skills were enlisted.

The main objective was to adopt a process that enabled the widest cross section of the residents a chance to express their views.

This was through a series of events including public meetings, the Artisan market and widespread surveys of different groups.

With the support of our professional advisors we have been able to create a draft plan that not only manages the residents aspirations but is also compliant with planning law.

This letter is to persuade all our residents who have a view about Northwich’s future development to attend our final public presentation of the draft plan at Memorial Court this week.

Our task then is to incorporate your responses into the final draft of Northwich Neighbourhood Plan.

Please see the advertisement in the Guardian giving the days when the public display can be viewed.

Next year after inspection by an independent examiner, if it passes this scrutiny, all Northwich residents who are registered to vote and give the plan a majority in favour it will pass into planning law.

David Roberts Chair, Northwich Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee