A ONE-day referendum will take place in Malmesbury and adjoining parishes later this month that will help shape the future of the town and surrounding villages over the next 12 years.

The ground-breaking move will see people in Malmesbury, St Paul Malmesbury Without and Brokenborough cast their vote on Thursday, November 27.

They will be asked whether they want Wiltshire Council to adopt the newly drawn-up Malmesbury neighbourhood plan as a template to help decide planning applications in the area.

A yes vote will give the public a greater say in local planning issues than ever before. It is the first vote of its kind in Wiltshire and it is expected similar referendums will follow across the county in the next few years.

The document is in effect a blueprint for development, covering the most important planning issues.

The plan has been approved by independent examiner John Mattocks after a public hearing on September 18, after which several amendments were made to the original draft.

It now states that about 1,395 new homes should be built in the Malmesbury area between 2006 and 2026 – 756 of which have been completed. Of these 885 were identified for the town – 483 of which have already been built.

The remaining 510 have been earmarked for the parish areas, of which 273 have been completed.

Some locations have been decided but other sites – including greenfield areas – will have to be identified.

Independent Wiltshire county councillor for the town Simon Killane stressed the importance of the referendum and said he was keen for people to be fully informed before they voted.

Applications, amendments and cancellations for postal votes must be received by Wiltshire Council before November 12, while applications for proxy votes must be in before November 19.

They should be sent to Electoral Registration Officer at Electoral Services, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8JN.