THE polls have opened in Lydney for a referendum on a development plan for the town.

Supporters say if the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) is approved, the Forest of Dean District Council will have to give more weight to local feelings when discussing planning applications for the town.

It also looks at other issues such as housing, transport and the viability of the town centre.

The NDP was described by chairman of the group which has piloted it to this stage, Lydney town councillor Brian Pearman, as "potentially the most important planning document relevant to Lydney to come forward in the last 40 years."

A number of towns and villages in the Forest are in the process of putting together similar plans but Lydney is the first in the district to get to the final, referendum, stage.

Polling stations opened at 7am and will close at 10pm.