BURNHAM residents have voted for a plan on how the town will be shaped to be used to influence future planning decisions.

Residents went to the polls yesterday to vote on the Burnham neighbourhood plan. The plan, which has been in the pipeline since 2013, went out for a six-week public consultation in November.

Independent examiner Andrew Ashcroft’s proposed changes were approved by Maldon District Council in May.

The vote on the neighbourhood plan saw residents asked “Do you want Maldon District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Burnham-on-Crouch to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

In total 1,432 people voted yes, with 204 voting no.

Turnout for the ballot was 26 per cent and there were seven rejected papers. 

The neighbourhood plan sets out how issues such as housing, infrastructure, flooding, parking and schooling should be approached.

Proposals include a new amenity space for the north of the town, expansion of education facilities, reassessing the size and setting of the station car park and improvements to roads and bus routes.