The Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan has been approved by the voters of Holbeck by a margin of 266 in favour to 68 against. There were 2,406 registered voters living within the plan area and eligible to vote.
The vote went ahead yesterday (1 March 2018) despite the extreme weather. The polling station at Ingram Road Primary School was open despite the school being closed. The weather clearly affected turnout, which was just 13.9%. That compares with a 28.3% turnout in the 2016 local elections across the whole of Beeston & Holbeck ward.
The result means that the Plan has been approved by residents and is now part of the Development Plan for Holbeck.
Commenting on the result, Dennis Kitchen, Chair of the Neighbourhood Forum said:
“It’s a great result for the people of Holbeck. I’d like to thank everyone who used their postal vote and especially everyone who came out to vote in person in the atrocious weather. Thanks also to everyone who worked to hard over five years to put the plan together and everyone in Holbeck who contributed to our consultations.
“We can now go forward and have an input into planning decisions made about our area.”
And Ian Mackay, Leeds City Council’s Neighbourhood Planning Support Team leader, added:
“This is an impressive result given the weather and the circumstances – I think it also gives the forum a high degree of confidence and credibility to continue as a forum to help deliver the plan and other things.”
Commenting on Twitter, Cllr Adam Ogilvie said:
“Well done to everyone involved with putting together the #HolbeckNeighbourhoodPlan over the last 5 years. Your hard work has paid off with residents voting “yes” in yesterday’s referendum in Holbeck (despite the snow!)”
