A local group is continuing to rally against the recently approved neighbourhood plan for their area – suggesting that it ‘doesn’t protect the Green Belt'.

The Beaconsfield Society has been vocal about its opposition to the plan since its conception, on the basis that it “doesn’t do enough” to discourage large-scale developments on local land currently earmarked to prevent urban sprawl.

Conversely, former mayor Jackson Ng has been adamant that getting the plan through the door is of paramount importance, stressing that there will be room to “improve and finetune” the particulars after the town’s “collective voice” on relevant issues is secured.

Now, with residents heading to the polls in just over a month on Monday, September 9, the campaign is beginning to heat up on both sides.

The question put to the electorate will be: ‘Do you want Buckinghamshire Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Beaconsfield to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

Proponents argue that the plan’s success would give locals more of a voice to counter new developments and appeals that could arise as part of the Labour government’s drive to de-classify some Green Belt areas and instead designate them as ‘Grey Belt’.

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But Beaconsfield Society members simply don’t think the introduction of powers to chip in on development projects – say, by adding cycle paths or animal habitats – is a strong enough stance for their council to take on the essential “protection of the town’s green landscape”.

A spokesperson pointed in particular to a lack of “firm policy” to discourage developers from picking outer Beaconsfield as their plot of choice and even suggested that “while some people might say any plan is better than nothing, in this case, nothing is better”.

Advertising several upcoming ‘public meetings’ on August 15 and September 4 to ‘find out why you should vote no (in the referendum)’, a society representative described the plan as straightforwardly “bad”, adding: “It leaves Beaconsfield vulnerable and makes Green Belt development more likely.”

However, a Buckinghamshire Council examiner who approved the plan in May had no such qualms, suggesting that it was compatible with “a desire to protect the semi-rural environment and conserve and enhance the character of the town”.

Residents in the Beaconsfield area who are currently not eligible to vote must register before August 21 to participate in the referendum. Applications should be directed to the Electoral Registration Officer, Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury HP19 8FF.