Teignmouth residents have voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting a plan that will give the town council more of a say in planning issues.

Voters in yesterday’s (May 2nd) referendum were asked: ‘Do you want Teignbridge District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Teignmouth to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

The proportion of voters in favour of adopting the plan totalled 79.9% while 17.3% voted against.

Deputy Counting Officer Steven Penfold said: ‘I do hereby declare that more than half of those voting have voted in favour of using the Teignmouth Neighbourhood Plan.’

A majority vote means that the Neighbourhood Plan becomes a legal planning document in the planning system.

The Neighbourhood Plan will give Teignmouth Council more powers about the look and type of developments that are permitted to go ahead in the area.

Turnout for the referendum was 21.9%.