THE NEXT phase of a hugely controversial local plan has begun.

On June 19 tempers flared at Windsor Town Hall at a meeting held to decide whether the council's Borough Plan should move to the next stage.

While high drama abounded, with one councillor drowned out by the slow clapping audience and another quitting the Conservative bench, the motion passed 33 votes to 10.

Now the plan, which will guide the next twenty years of growth and infrastructure in Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot and villages such as Sunningdale and Sunninghill, will go on displays across the borough for scrutiny.

Councillor Derek Wilson, cabinet member for planning, said: “Over the next two months copies of the Borough Local Plan will be available across the borough for residents and stakeholders to inspect and scrutinise.

“This plan is a hugely important document that will help to us to build a borough for everyone and protect the borough against opportunistic and inappropriate developments.

“After a lot of hard work over the last few years, Regulation 19 allows comments on the technical and legal soundness of the plan before it is submitted to the Secretary of State.”

Last year comments were submitted on the individual sites during a six week consultation and those have been fed into the current version of the plan.

The public are asked to comment on whether the plan is positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy.

Once Regulation 19 ends, the plan and all valid representations will be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval.

A Planning Inspector will be appointed for examination, who will then present it to the council for final approval.

To view the plan go to www3.rbwm.gov.uk/blp