PURTON residents have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a neighbourhood plan to protect the village from overdevelopment.

A local referendum was held in the parish which asked residents whether Wiltshire Council should refer to the Purton Neighbourhood Plan, devised by the parish, when deciding on future planning applications.

The nearly forty-page document highlights busy traffic routes, areas of historical interest and valued sites of county wildlife.

There were 710 votes cast, 631 agreed with the idea, 75 said no, and 4 spoilt their ballot papers.

Parish councillors hope it can avoid excessive development of the village and surrounding area, forcing Wiltshire planning authorities to refer to the plan when considering future developments.

Ray Thomas, chairman of Purton Parish Council, told the Advertiser: “We appreciate that the village has to grow.

"But together we've come up with these policies to protect the village from the growth of Swindon, we want to stay as village, no disrespect to Swindon, and protect our own identity.

"Green space needs protecting, We also need to allocate land to employment, because most of the people in the village who are working travel outside of the village to work.

The plan also includes possible sites where land could be used as new business premises.

"So we've looked at areas where the owner of land can put small business units and hopefully encourage employment in that area," added Ray.

There are also two developments within the parish of Purton which are currently going through the planning process that may now have to get over the extra hurdle of referring to the plan.

A development of 81 houses at Elborough Bridge, near Ridgeway Farm and Mouldon View, was rejected by Wiltshire Council and will go to appeal and has been excluded from the neighbourhood plan over traffic concerns.

"The traffic going into Swindon on that road is only going to be exacerbated if you put another 81 houses. It's bad enough now and it's going to make it a whole lot worse," said Ray.

"Any planning applications now have to take the plan into account when deciding whether to approve or deny developments. It becomes a legal part in the planning process."

An appeal for the Elborough Bridge development will start on January 29 and last for eight days.