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Wings
Voting on village future
Forget the possibility of a second referendum on Europe, Wingerworth residents have two opportunities
to vote on the future of their
village. John Winter explains
W INGERWORTH residents will have the chance to vote on two important issues affecting village life in the next few months, the future of the Parish
Hall and the adoption of the Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out how the village could be protected from over development in the future.
A Referendum will be held on June 14th whereby villagers can say whether they approve of a Neighbourhood Plan drawn up by a committee of residents, which includes policies on development areas, green open spaces, shopping and recreation facilities.
The Plan has already received the go-ahead from the Government and planning authority and it would come into force is a ‘Yes’ decision is recorded, and may be used in the absence of a Local Plan as limited protection against further housing development.
You can read the Plan via the Parish Council website.
A referendum is run just like an election. NE Derbyshire District Council has sent out polling cards. There will be five polling stations; the polling card will alert residents as to which station they must use.
A far more emotive subject is the future of the Parish Hall, and after several years of heated debate amongst
Latest image of the possible design of a new Parish Hall
parish councillors and residents, and a decision at the turn of the year to opt for a new hall, councillors have now decided to give the whole village a vote on the issue.
A Referendum will be held, at a cost of £7,000, and two campaigning groups have been set up, one in favour of a new hall situated near the new Medical Centre in Deer Park, led by Coun Chair Diana Ruff; the other supporting the repair and modernisation of the existing hall, led by Coun Kevin Broughton.
Residents who attended the May meeting of the council were surprised at the sudden decision to opt for a Referendum.
“It came as a big surprise but I welcome it,” said one of the campaigners against a new hall. “Our stance will continue to be that we do not want to see any further building on Deer Park.”
Chair, Coun Diana Ruff, said: “We haven't had a change of heart. To meet the criteria to apply for the grant funding we have to have a residents’ vote. Hence the need for the two groups to show full transparency.”
Latest costings of the two options are sketchy and likely to be out of date, but an estimate of re-modelling/refurbishment of the existing hall, which needs new boilers and extensive roof works, was said to be £600,000 in April, whilst a new hall could cost over £900,000. Those who support continued use of the present hall challenge the council’s estimate of the work.
The new hall campaigners say the most obvious down side of remaining at the current site would be the closure of the entire hall for at least 18 months, which will mean no income, no library, and all current users and functions would have to find temporary alternative accommodation.
Those opting for the present hall believe it may not have to close completely while work goes on.
Also, the new hall group say entire funding for renovating the existing hall would have to be met by a loan, paid for by Council Tax.
With a new build, they say the old hall could be kept open until the new hall is open, and once the old site is sold off, a large proportion of the loan could then be paid off from the money realised. A new build would also be more cost effective to run, they claim.
More details were set to be revealed at the June council meeting.
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