A DATE has been set for people living in the village of Bloxham to vote on a framework for future planning in the area.

On Thursday, November 3 a referendum will be held in the town on the parish's new Neighbourhood Plan.

Scores of people have been involved in drawing up the plan, which includes a detailed set of guidelines for the local authority when considering future development.

About 4,800 people in the Bloxham area will be eligible to vote and have until Tuesday, October 18 to register.

The deadline for the receipt of postal vote applications for those not able to get to a polling station will be Wednesday, October 19 at 5pm.

If more than 50 per cent of voters in the parish back the Neighbourhood Plan it will be adopted as part of Cherwell District Council's statutory development plan.

The question that appears on the ballot paper will be “Do you want Cherwell District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Bloxham to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood area?”.

It comes after an examiner's report into the plan confirmed it was fit to proceed to referendum subject to some small modifications.

Councillor Colin Clarke, Cherwell’s lead member for planning, said: “Neighbourhood planning is a way for communities to exercise more control.

"The plan is not about preventing development in Bloxham parish, but about allowing people to work proactively with Cherwell to help shape the future of the parish in a way that is reflective of their needs and views."

To register to vote visit www.gov.uk/registertovote or for more information call 01295 227005.