LYDNEY residents voted ’yes’ in last week’s referendum on the town’s local development plan.

Some 1,022 residents, 17 per cent of the town’s electorate, took part in the election with 86 per cent voting in favour of the Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan on February 18.

The local plan will now become a statutory planning document which will assist in governing Lydney’s planning.

Lydney Town Mayor Bob Berryman, congratulated those involved with the plan.

He said: “This a fantastic positive vote for localism and local communities managing their own community’s governance.”

In 2012 Lydney Town Council began the process of developing the community based NDP Plan with feedback for local residents, the Forest of Dean District Council and other Statutory bodies.

Brian Pearman, chairman of the NDP steering group, was delighted with the result.

He said: “The 86 per cent yes vote slightly exceeded our expectations, and I would like to thank everyone who took the trouble to vote.

“The Lydney NDP is possibly the most important planning document relevant to Lydney to come forward in the last 40 years.”

Several projects emanating from the plan are already in the early stages of development, having attracted central government grant funding.