A referendum deciding the future of Broughton has been held.

Residents in the village and surrounding area were given the option to vote on a neighbourhood plan, after Preston City Council secured £20,000 funding for the referendum.

Locals were asked to vote either yes or no on on the question: ‘Do you want Preston City Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Broughton-in-Amounderness to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

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The vote which took place on Thursday 18 October decided ‘yes’.

Out of a 44.76% turnout, a total of 87% voted yes for the Neighbourhood Plan.

571 votes were cast in favour of ‘yes’, compared to 85 which were ‘no’, and one was rejected.

Preston City Council will now use the Neighbourhood Plan for Broughton-in Armounderness to help decide future planning applications.

Only those in the Broughton-in-Armounderness could vote on the decision and a ‘yes’ campaign was set up by Broughton Parish Council.

Organiser of the ‘yes’ campaign, Pat Hastings, said: “Broughton says Yes! A victory for local democracy.

“Yesterday the referendum was held in Broughton for the Neighbourhood Plan and with a 44.67% turnout (higher than many general elections) 87% voted for the Plan.

“Adrian Philips from Preston City Council read the result at 10.40pm. So we are on the final run with only the need for Preston City Council to ratify the decision at their next meeting.”

Leader of Preston City Council, Councillor Matthew Brown, said: “We’re pleased that the residents of Broughton in Amounderness believed in the Neighbourhood Plan which resulted .in a ‘yes’ vote at the referendum.

“This is the natural next step in the successful partnership of our work with Broughton Parish Council, and look forward to what lies ahead.”