A PUBLIC vote to shape the future of Acomb will take place in the new year.

All residents in the parish who are registered to vote will be able to have a say on the Acomb Neighbourhood Plan during a local referendum meeting planned for Thursday, January 10.

It will be the eighth neighbourhood plan in Northumberland to successfully pass independent examination.

Northumberland County Council considers that the plan meets the necessary legal requirements and is now ready to proceed to local referendum.

If a majority of residents who vote in the referendum are in favour of the plan, it will be used to make decisions on planning applications in the parish.

Acomb Parish Council has engaged with the community to produce the plan which addresses issues local people have identified as important in their local area and established a steering group to lead the plan making process.

The referendum will run in the same way as a local election, with all those eligible to vote receiving a polling card, and the options of postal and proxy voting available to those who are registered.

New applications to register to vote must be received by Wednesday, December 19, and new applications for postal voting must be received in the elections office by the following day.

Residents should contact the elections team for an application form as soon as possible on (01670) 624811.

The Acomb Neighbourhood Plan and accompanying documents can be viewed on the County Council’s website at: www.northumberland.gov.uk/ourplan.

It follows the successful referendum of the Whittington Neighbourhood Plan this month.