Residents of the Chesil Bank area – including Portesham, Abbotsbury, Langton Herring and Fleet, near Dorchester – will go to the polls to make a decision on a new Neighbourhood Plan.

Following successful examination of the plan, Dorset Council has agreed that it can now go to a referendum. If accepted, it will shape how the area is developed and will guide future decisions on planning applications.

To have their say, residents must be registered to vote by September 12, ahead of the referendum on Thursday, September 28.

The plan was drawn up by local people and agreed by the parish council, which felt confident that the plans reflected the hopes and views of their local communities.

What is a neighbourhood plan?

Neighbourhood plans were introduced in the Localism Act 2011 and aim to give residents more say in the future use of land and buildings in their area. For example the plan can say where new homes, shops or offices might be built or where important green spaces might be protected.

If the plan is supported by the local referendum it will be used to make decisions on planning applications.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: "It takes a tremendous amount of work to pull together a Neighbourhood Plan. I congratulate all involved in getting to this stage.

"I would encourage anyone with an interest in the future development of Chesil Bank, to view the plans and have their say."

View the plans

The Chesil Bank Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed online with hard copies of the supporting material on display in the Dorset Council offices at Colliton Park, Dorchester, in Portesham Village Hall foyer, and at Dorchester and Chickerell Libraries.

How to vote

The Chesil Bank Neighbourhood Plan referendum will be held on September 28. You have to be registered to vote by September 12 to vote in these referendums.

The polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on September 28.

You now need photo ID to vote at a polling station. If you don't have accepted photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

Applications for Voter Authority Certificates must be received by 5:00 pm Wednesday 20 September 2023. www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

How to vote – post or proxy

To vote by post or proxy in these referendums, you will need to have filled in an application form and sent it to Electoral Registration. 

Postal and proxy vote application forms are available online or by contacting the Electoral Services team by emailing [email protected] or calling 0135 83829.

Applications to vote by post in the Chesil Bank referendum must be received by 5pm on September 13. 

To vote by proxy, application forms should be received by 5pm on September 20.

Questions can be emailed to: [email protected]

Alternatively, they can be posted to: Spatial Planning, County Hall, Colliton Park Dorchester DT1 1XJ.