WARMINSTER residents have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the town’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Of the 2,140 votes cast by residents at the referendum on Thursday (November 10), 1,660 voted in favour of the plan while 477 voted against it.

Wiltshire Council will now work up the formal post-referendum decision statement which is required to formally ‘make’ the Neighbourhood Plan before it is implemented.

But members of the Labour Party’s South West constituency think those who voted in favour of the plan will soon regret their decision.

Eleanor Free, of the party, said: "Obviously we have to abide by what was a democratic result.

“But I wonder how many people were aware of the background to the plan?

“The government offered district councils a deal which would allow them to retain any money that they receive from the sale of assets.

“In return they had to agree to a four year cuts plan. The plan had to include cuts in Wiltshire services of £35 million.

“Wiltshire Unitary Authority not only agreed to the £35 million of cuts but have increased it to £45 million.

“The total spend by Wiltshire on 350 different services is over £900 million and a cut of £45 million will mean even more drastic service reductions.

“The income towards our already crumbling infrastructure will be overshadowed by larger cuts in our already depleted services."

The plan, which spans the period up to 2026, has been drawn up to enable Warminster to take a new approach to the development of the town.

It is the end product of three years of consultation periods.

Warminster Cllr Rob Fryer said: “I am delighted that the plan has been approved

“It has taken a lot of hard work from members of council staff and the working group and while it isn’t perfect, it would have been a disaster for the town if it was rejected.

“I can’t understand why 477 people voted against it. Do they not care about the future of the town?”

Some of the plan’s main aims are to enhance the environment and create a thriving town centre, which includes strengthening the retail offer, and redevelopment of the central car park area.