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BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Northamptons residents worry about 'voting blind' in referendum
Residents have raised concerns about "voting blind" in an upcoming referendum that could shape the future of their area's local in Northampton's on the Semilong and Trinity area have got the chance to cast a vote in whether they want West Northamptonshire Council to use their neighbourhood plan when assessing planning John Atkinson said he was worried people would not vote on the plan as "they have no idea what they are voting on".Neighbourhood plans are documents which set out the blueprint and decide how land should be used in the future - be it for housing, business use or green space. The plan has been under development since 2017, when it was first designated by the now-defunct Northampton Borough Council, which has been replaced by the West Northants unitary council, which Reform UK won control of last on the neighbourhood plan took place initially in 2020 and the council said it received feedback from 118 plan document said that by 2038 Semilong and Trinity "will be a distinctive, vibrant neighbourhood which is making a significant contribution to the prosperity and diversity of Northampton".It also delves into the delivery of new housing and says it will support applications where residential buildings "do not jeopardise the function of the area as a place of work, leisure and shopping". Feedback from the community also demonstrated a preference for starter homes and private housing and low support for additional rented houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). Mr Atkinson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he thought the plan looked great "but I'm guessing most people who got the polling card think 'what on earth's that?What's this plan? Bin it'. "My view is that each resident should have received a copy of the plan, to help them decide how to vote."However, a West Northamptonshire Council spokesperson said: "The Semilong and Trinity Neighbourhood Plan has been developed by Northampton Town Council and local community leaders over several years with public consultation throughout."We understand some residents were unaware of the plan. "While poll cards don't include the full document, information has been shared via websites, public consultations, and local venues."Farzana Aldridge, a newly elected Labour councillor to the Kingsley and Semilong ward, said she would hold meetings with residents to talk through the added: "Residents did contact me regarding the Neighbourhood Plan and expressed their concerns about their insufficient information." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Visually impaired Carlisle voters welcome Julie Minns MP's bill
Blind and partially-sighted voters have welcomed proposals by their local MP to help them vote Labour MP Julie Minns proposed a new law to ensure polling stations had audio and tactile voting people with sight loss described having to ask others to help them cast their vote and not being entirely sure of having marked the ballot paper government said it was exploring ways to improve the system. Cumberland Council, which runs elections in Carlisle, has been approached for comment. John Atkinson, from Carlisle, is blind due to glaucoma and said he had used folds in the ballot paper as a guide to where to place his cross at last year's general said he could not "guarantee" he had voted for the candidate he intended, but thought he had Minns' proposed new law, he said: "I think it will be a good thing, really, especially for myself - then I'll be able to do it more independently."Susan Fox, from Brampton in the Carlisle constituency, needed help from her husband to vote last year and said the MP's proposal was "excellent". Terri Balon, regional campaigns officer for RNIB in north-west England, said the charity was concerned some people with visual impairments were not voting because of the barriers they faced."People don't believe the system is accessible," she saidThe charity said it had successfully trialled a device with a tactile template, a McGonagle Reader, that could be placed over a ballot paper.A connected speaker or set of headphones announces the names of candidates. Improving the system A subsequent report by RNIB recommended returning officers provided such devices where needed and the charity said some electoral authorities had bought Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said the government was committed to "making elections accessible" and it was exploring "ways to improve the system". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
