Uppingham Town Council warned not to deliver draft neighbourhood plan to homes

A council has been ‘strongly advised’ not to send a copy of the draft neighbourhood plan to every household before a town-wide referendum, in case it jeopardises the process.

Uppingham Town Council, which has spent several years creating the plan, had intended to print a copy for each household along with a summary of the proposals.

But at a full council meeting on Wednesday (June 4) mayor David Ainslie, said the council had been advised by Rutland County Council not to do so.

The neighbourhood plan sets out where new housing and businesses should go, along with community facilities. It has been drawn up by Uppingham Town Council in consultation with residents and could become part of planning policy following a referendum on Thursday, July 24.

The referendum will ask residents whether they want the plan to become part of local planning policy.

The neighbourhood plan suffered a setback last year when an independent planning inspector said there were issues with the number of housing sites allocated across the town as well as the low density of housing. But after a redraft the inspector is content, subject to minor technical amendments.

Reflecting at the town council meeting Rutland County Council's advice, Coun Ainslie said: "We have worked so hard and lots of people are interested in this and I think it would be an absolute disaster at this late stage to do anything that derails it.

"I feel we have to follow the advice we have been given, even if it is not what we really want to do.”

The council was warned against sending the draft to homes in case it leads to accusations of bias.

The plan is available to view online and at the town council offices and the library.