Neighbourhood plan gains public backing as election fever sweeps Stratford

Stratford residents have voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting the town's Neighbourhood Development Plan following a referendum yesterday.

More than 91 per cent of votes cast were in favour of adopting the plan, which will be used to guide future planning decisions in the town.

Turnout was 26.11 per cent and a total of 5,810 votes were cast.

The neighbourhood plan referendum was not the only vote to take place yesterday, by-elections for the Stratford North county council ward and the Welcombe ward at Stratford Town Council also went ahead.

Both by-elections were triggered by the death of Cllr Keith Lloyd, who passed away in September.

The Stratford North ward was won by Liberal Democrat candidate Dominic Skinner who polled 877 votes, beating his nearest rival Conservative candidate Lynda Organ who gained 610 votes.

The turnout was 27.91 per cent.

It was better news for the Conservatives at the Town Council vote though where Gavin Griffiths was elected to represent the Welcombe ward, after gaining 355 votes ahead of Liberal Democrat candidate Kevin Taylor, who secured 279 votes.

The turnout was 36.47 per cent.

For more on this story read next week's Herald.