The small town about to hold a referendum on its future

People in Bingley and its surrounding villages will go to the polls next week in a referendum that could shape how their communities develop for years to come.

The Bingley Neighbourhood Development Plan has taken almost a decade to prepare and, if backed by voters on 16 July, will become part of Bradford Council's planning policy.

It sets out a vision for Bingley up to 2038, covering everything from housing and green spaces to town centre improvements, heritage, employment and transport.

Philippa Gibbons, who chairs the Neighbourhood Development Plan group, said: "We've worked really hard on this. I'd like to thank those who have engaged so far and would encourage people to vote in the referendum."

Supporters of adopting the plan said it would help guide future development, protect green spaces and heritage, and give local people a stronger voice over planning decisions, including those relating to changing rules around building on green belt land.

They said another practical benefit of adopting the plan would be increasing the proportion of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding retained locally from 15% to 25%, meaning more community contribution money paid by developers could be spent on infrastructure projects in Bingley itself rather than going into a central pot.

The BBC spoke to people in Bingley town centre, and while some locals were enthusiastic, many were still unaware of what the vote was about. Others said the technical nature of the referendum documents had put them off engaging with it.

"I thought, I've only just voted. Why am I voting again?" said Sue Turner, who admitted she knew little about the referendum until her husband looked it up online.

"There were pages and pages of it...so he gave up," she said.

Cottingley resident Angie, who declined to give her surname, said she had only "vaguely" heard about the referendum and had not realised what it could mean for the future of the area. After hearing more about it, she said it had prompted her to think about voting.

Having lived in the area for almost 40 years, she said she would like to see more shops attracting people into Bingley, believed future housing should focus on previously developed land where possible, and felt more bungalows were needed to meet the needs of the area's ageing population.

However friends Keith Mercer and Dave Reid were hugely enthusiastic, and were on their way to post their ballot papers for a postal vote when they stopped to chat.

Both voted yes to adopting the neighbourhood plan.

"It's all about Bingley and keeping Bingley beautiful," Dave said. "It needs investment, it needs money."

He said the main issues affecting the area were deterioration in the town centre, and a need for better maintenance of public spaces and greenery.

He had fewer concerns about housebuilding.

"We want flats. It needs to be flats, not a McDonald's," he said, referring to a recent planning application for a drive-through being approved on appeal.

"I don't mind about housing. If people need houses, they need houses, I've no issues with that. As long as the local community's consulted before and it's not just driven through."

Meanwhile Keith wanted a focus on potholes and pavements, both of which he said were a "disgrace" and he was hopeful that adoption of the neighbourhood plan would help.

The plan has been prepared by Bingley Town Council and community volunteers since 2017 following years of consultation with residents, businesses and community groups.

Because of referendum rules, the town council must remain neutral on the outcome and cannot campaign for residents to vote in favour. However, those involved said they were keen to encourage people to take part in what they see as an important exercise in local democracy.

Councillor Andrew Judson, Bradford Council's executive member for economy, regeneration and planning, described the neighbourhood plan as "an extremely important piece of legislation", praised the "hard work and diligence" behind it and urged residents to continue engaging with the process by using their vote.

If approved, the plan will become part of Bradford Council's planning framework and be used alongside other planning policies when decisions are made on future development across the Bingley area.

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