A DATE has been set for the referendum on the Liss Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The referendum will be held in the village on Thursday, November 9.

The plan has now been accepted by the South Downs National Park Authority’s (SDNPA) planning committee, which agreed to accept all modifications as proposed in the independent examiner’s report.

Liss Parish Council vice-chairman Keith Budden said: “All the amendments are really minor and are subtle changes.

“The referendum will run like any other election with the postal vote for people who have it and polling stations in the village hall and the evangelical church.

“At the end of the day it is down to people to decide whether they want to accept the plan or not.

“If the plan is adopted then people will have had the chance to have their say at the consultations, and if the plan is not adopted then an anonymous civil servant might have the final say on planning decisions in Liss. That’s the choice.”

Cllr Budden stressed the importance of villagers coming out to vote in the referendum and exercising their democratic right.

“It is important that people come out and vote whichever way they feel,” said Cllr Budden.

“The referendum result has more weight either way if more people turn out and vote.

“It has been roughly three years to get to this point and regardless of the outcome of the referendum the village has gained a lot from the exercise.

“The parish council is in no doubt what development people want and where.

“The message is loud and clear that people want smaller developments as opposed to one big development with 170 homes.

“I remember standing up in the annual meeting saying we should have a neighbourhood plan, and I am pleased people went for it.

“Talking to people in the village it seems most people are aware of the plan.”

Cllr Budden also thanked everyone who has put their time into the Liss Neighbourhood Development Plan.

He added: “We owe a big thanks to Sir John Dunt, Cllr Roger Hargreaves, Cllr Sue Halstead and everybody else who has worked on the plan for all their endeavours.

“It is a fantastic achievement to have produced a plan on the budget they have, which is a smaller budget than some other plans in the local area.”