Cumbria votes yes in historic referendum
Voters in Cumbria have said yes in the country's first neighbourhood planning referendum.
The Upper Eden area, around Brough and Kirkby Stephen, went to the polls yesterday to decide if residents wanted to have more of a say over local planning decisions.
Ninety per cent of those who voted supported the plan.
Votes in favour: 1,310
Votes against: 138
Total Turnout: 1,452 (33.67%)
The vote was part of the government's localism agenda to give more power to local communities and cut some of the red tape surrounding planning decisions.
The neighbourhood plan, drawn up locally, will allow the people of Upper Eden to decide where homes should be built and whether redundant farm buildings can be converted.
The plan will now go to Eden District Council and will influence any planning decisions in the area.
– Gordon Nicholson, Leader of Eden District Council“I offer my congratulations to the Upper Eden Planning Group on a successful result. I am delighted that the residents of Upper Eden have decided by a significant majority to endorse the Upper Eden Community Plan. This is the first plan in the country. I do hope that local people will now submit planning applications and we look forward to dealing with them."
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