West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has offered her support to villages in her constituency that wish to develop alternative local plans for development, instead of agreeing to the South Worcestershire Development plan sites. The MP met with parishioners in Beckford today (Friday 14th September) to discuss local plans and explain how a neighbourhood plan and referendum might work. Other villages which are interested in developing alternative local plans are Martley, Kempsey, Powick and Welland. Harriett is urging residents to develop their own parish local plans and under the Localism Act the powers to do this exist and parishes can hold local referenda on them. The MP has written to the chief executives of both Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils and to the new Planning Minister asking them for some additional time to allow communities to complete this process properly. Harriett commented: “Our three South Worcestershire councils are rightly working hard to develop their overall plan. They have a looming deadline of March 23rd 2013 when the National Planning Policy Framework comes into being. "The consultation ended today but in many cases villages have not had time to draw up an alternative.” “For example in Beckford, the public exhibition was only held on September 5th.” “I am passionate about localism and it should be down to local villages to discuss where they want development to occur. “Martley has done really well to get a plan developed by September 14th but they have not had time for a referendum yet. “I would like to think that for some of these smaller parishes, if they can complete the whole process by Christmas, the planners and district councilors should be able to reflect the changes in the overall SWDP.”