PONTELAND residents are being encouraged to comment on the final draft of their neighbourhood plan, which has now been submitted to Northumberland County Council.

Ponteland Neighbourhood Plan sets out what development Ponteland Town Council would like to see in the parish.

A six-week period of consultation started on Friday, April 21, and will run until Monday, June 5, before the plan is assessed by an independent examiner, who will then publish a report later this year. Residents are being invited to make their comments.

If the plan passes independent examination, it will be put to a local referendum, when people living in the area will be able to vote on whether it should be used by the county council when it makes decisions on planning applications.

The plan can be seen online at www.northumberland.gov.uk/ourplan

Written representations can be made by email to NeighbourhoodPlanning@northumberland.gov.uk or by post to: Ponteland Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Planning & Infrastructure Team, Planning Services, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF.

All comments and feedback must be received by Northumberland County Council no later than 4pm on Monday, June 5.