The polls have opened in Maidstone’s first ever Neighbourhood Plan Referendum.

Voters in North Loose are casting their ballots to decide whether to accept the Neighbourhood Development Plan that has been produced by their local amenity group, the North Loose Residents’ Association (NLRA).

If passed, the 32-page plan, which has been several years in preparation, will become supplementary planning guidance which the borough council must take into account when considering future planning applications for the area.

There was a steady stream of voters at the area’s three polling stations this morning.

To gain approval, the plan needs to secure a straight majority of votes cast.

North Loose is defined as South Ward, less the area of Tovil Parish. It does not include the parish of Loose, but incorporates roads from Boughton Lane, to Cripple Street, and Postley Road to Westwood Road.

There are 4,055 eligible voters live in the area.

Voting will be at one of three polling stations: the Vine Church in Boughton Lane, the YMCA Centre in Melrose Close and the Maidstone Hockey Club in Armstrong Road. The polls will stay open until 10pm.

Sean Carter, who led the team that devised the plan, said: “This is the culmination of a great deal of hard work by a small team of volunteers supported by our professional planning consultants, Community Spirit Partnership.

“We’ve spent £10,000 and it’s taken approximately 1,500 volunteer hours.

“Now it is down to our residents to have their democratic say.”

If passed, the plan will be the first to be approved in the Borough of Maidstone - and will have beaten the borough council’s own attempts to produce a Local Plan which is still at least six months from completion.

The result is expected before midnight tonight.