However friends Keith Mercer and Dave Reid were hugely enthusiastic, and were on their way to post their ballot papers for a postal vote when they stopped to chat.
Both voted yes to adopting the neighbourhood plan.
“It’s all about Bingley and keeping Bingley beautiful,” Dave said. “It needs investment, it needs money.”
He said the main issues affecting the area were deterioration in the town centre, and a need for better maintenance of public spaces and greenery.
He had fewer concerns about housebuilding.
“We want flats. It needs to be flats, not a McDonald’s,” he said, referring to a recent planning application for a drive-through being approved on appeal.
“I don’t mind about housing. If people need houses, they need houses, I’ve no issues with that. As long as the local community’s consulted before and it’s not just driven through.”
Meanwhile Keith wanted a focus on potholes and pavements, both of which he said were a “disgrace” and he was hopeful that adoption of the neighbourhood plan would help.
The plan has been prepared by Bingley Town Council and community volunteers since 2017 following years of consultation with residents, businesses and community groups.
Because of referendum rules, the town council must remain neutral on the outcome and cannot campaign for residents to vote in favour. However, those involved said they were keen to encourage people to take part in what they see as an important exercise in local democracy.
Councillor Andrew Judson, Bradford Council’s executive member for economy, regeneration and planning, described the neighbourhood plan as “an extremely important piece of legislation”, praised the “hard work and diligence” behind it and urged residents to continue engaging with the process by using their vote.
If approved, the plan will become part of Bradford Council’s planning framework and be used alongside other planning policies when decisions are made on future development across the Bingley area.
