DOWNTON residents voting overwhelmingly in favour of accepting their Neighbourhood Plan in a referendum held in the village on Thursday.

Ninety five per cent voted yes to the question: ‘Do you want Wiltshire Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Downton to help to decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

Jane Brentor who started off working for the steering group on the neighbourhood plan and is now a parish councillor for Downton said: "With a 36 per cent turnout from residents of Downton – a high turnout for a local election – Downton residents gave the plan a resounding ‘yes’ vote.

"This represents an overwhelming mandate for the plan to become legal policy and to play a major part in influencing the future of the parish.

"The final confirmation of the status of the plan is awaited from Wiltshire Council in the next two weeks in the form of what is known as a formal ‘post referendum decision statement’.

"Specifically this means influencing the number of homes to be built in the area but it will also have an impact on facilities such as leisure, schooling and the environment.

"The strong ‘yes’ vote illustrates the accuracy of the consultation which formed the foundation for the policies and proposals in the plan.

"Implementing the plan over future years can help to ensure continued community cohesion in Downton parish."

The plan includes where further business development should take place, what facilities and services are required and the strong wish from residents that there be no more new houses other than the 190 homes allocated within the core strategy.

Downton is the first village in south Wiltshire to hold a formal referendum on its Neighbourhood Plan.

The plan took three years to produce and involved regular consultations.

In total 869 people voted in favour with 38 voting against.

For more information visit downtonfuture.org