People living in Formby will vote on the town's future in an historic referendum next month.
Residents will be given the chance to decide whether or not to accept the town council's Neighbourhood Plan (NP).
If voted through, the NP will be considered part of the wider planning process, and any planning applications that conflict with it can be refused.
Why is the vote taking place?
Essentially, the plan is designed to give people living in the area more say over what is approved and what isn't.
Since the Coalition Government changed planning laws in 2012, all local authorities have had to produce a Local Plan, setting out housing and development needs.
If councils did not do this, developers could simply build on any land they could buy, or the Government would intervene.
What is the Neighbourhood Plan, then?
Sefton 's adoption of its Local Plan has avoided both of these outcomes, but Formby Parish Council wants residents to have more say on planning decisions.
Bill Esterson Labour
But local independent councillors, along with the Parish Council itself, say the bulk of this money came from a ringfenced government grant.
What is the question my vote will answer?
The question on the ballot paper will be:
‘Do you want Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Formby & Little Altcar to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’
When is it happening?
The referendum will take place on Thursday, October 10. Polling stations are open from 7am-10pm.
Sefton Council is organising the referendum through its Election Services Team.
Results of referendum will be available at Formby Library. The results will also be available online here
What do local politicians think?
Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson says the plan 'should be agreed and become part of the framework'.
He said: "It is good news that the Neighbourhood Plan has been re-written and that it is now fit for purpose so that it can help the community in Formby.
"It is just a shame that it took an eye watering £30,000.
"The plan should now be agreed and be part of the framework for Formby. I hope that the Parish Council will realise they need to work with specialists who can help them."
Formby Residents' Action Group (FRAG) councillor Bob McCann said: "If approved, the plan will give local people the strongest available foundation on which to oppose, or favour, development in our town.
"Without it we will be at the mercy of the Sefton Local Plan which appears to provide little protection to any of our communities.
"I hope our residents realise that this is, potentially, a very important planning document and give it their support.'
Fellow FRAG councillor Maria Bennett echoed this, saying: "[The plan] will bring additional safeguards to the residents of Formby and will provide additional protections against flooding, for green spaces; shape future development in Formby and protect the environment.
"I would encourage residents to read the plan, specifically the policy section and the 29 additional protections that it offers Formby against the developers.
"This is a plan specifically for Formby and is different to Sefton MBC Local Plan and sets out the priorities for Formby rather than the wider borough of Sefton."
Labour
Conservative
