Voters in the Penrith Neighbourhood Plan Referendum have voted Yes to it becoming part of the local planning rules despite a very low turnout to vote in what is though to be one of the lowest turnouts in a Neighbourhood Plan referendum across the UK since they were first introduced in 2011. The result is also one of lowest turnouts to vote results in the Eden area for decades.
A total of 13,565 residents across Penrith were eligible to vote in the referendum on Thursday. Overall turnout was just 10.17% with a total of 467 votes cast at polling stations in Thursday’s referendum with a further 907 postal votes giving a total of 1374 votes cast.
1,131 Yes
249 No
And 3 rejected Ballot Papers.
The results were announced just before 11:45 at the count held at Penrith Methodist Church by Linda Jones the Deputy Counting Officer at Westmorland and Furness Council.
Councillor Doug Lawson, Chair of Penrith Town Council and Mayor of Penrith speaking after the result was announced said “For me, the most important part of this process has been all the hard work put in by officers, councillors and those on our group to ensure that Penrith people were heard. The result reflects that and now we must continue the task of putting those wishes into action at every opportunity.”
The referendum is understood to have cost Westmorland and Furness Council approximately £25,000 to hold in addition to the costs reported to be over £100,000 in creating and getting the town councils plan to the referendum stage.
With six polling stations open across Penrith from 7am on Thursday until 10pm issued with 11400 ballot papers but only issuing 467 ballot papers to voters.
In Castletown with 1,300 voters eligible to vote at the polling station on Thursday just 23 votes were cast.
A spokesperson for Evolve Penrith who campaigned for No Vote said “We thank all that have taken part and voted in the referendum for engaging with the referendum. But the shocking low turnout does not realistically give a mandate to the plan that is years out of date already for adoption. Westmorland and Furness Council will now have to seriously consider if the plan has a mandate to become part of the local planning rules that will affect every single property and business in Penrith now for years to come.”
“We know many have not voted because they simply don’t understand what it was all about and have had so little if any involvement or information on the plan.”
“Regardless of the result the referendum was democratic process, and everyone had the opportunity to vote in the referendum. The lack of votes shows there are much bigger issues in Penrith that need urgently considered to address the lack of democratic engagement.”
Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet will now to consider the council will formal adoption of the town council plan to become part of the local planning policy used when considering planning applications in Penrith.
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