Dear Editor, Now that the General Election is over the people of Aycliffe will be asked to go to the polls once again in the form of a Referendum, many people in the pubs and clubs are asking, “What’s it all about” they have received no communication, yet several places have copies of the “Neighbourhood Plan”, which has taken 3 years to develop and consult on, with steering group discussions. The final draft is now available in several locations for people to read before the 22nd June 2017 – earlier if you are a registered postal voter. The decision that people will make will affect the people of this Town for years to come when planning applications are put before Durham County Council’s Planning Committee.
If people want to preserve open green spaces and improvements to parking and many more issues, then you will need to consider voting ‘Yes’. If you are not bothered then a ‘No’ vote will do. The best thing would be to read the document in the Library, Leisure Centre, Newton Aycliffe Youth & Community Centre, opposite Tesco, or online at Durham County Council. I am led to believe that Councillors are not allowed to give advice on this so you have to form you own opinion. As a non-councillor I can offer advice and would say, read the document and vote ‘YES’. Last week’s Newton News gave the locations of where the Plan can be read.
Vince Crosby
