WE could all get the chance to vote in one referendum this year - but villagers in Bishops Lydeard and Cothelstone could take part in TWO yes/no votes.

As well as the anticipated in/out poll on Britain's European Union membership, electors in the parish five miles from Taunton can have their say on where 200 homes are built.

It will be the first parish in Taunton Deane to hold a referendum giving people a greater say on how their communities develop.

People will be asked to say yes or no to a neighbourhood plan drawn up by parish councillors pinpointing two plots at the eastern entrance to Lydeard for the homes.

The plan, which also contains proposals to boost tourism and employment, would enable the council to receive more cash from developers to put towards local facilities.

Cllr Mike Rigby, chairman of the Neighbourhood Planning Committee, which produced the plan under powers granted by the Localism Act 2012, said: "We have to make space for 200 houses and we invited landowners and developers to put forward pieces of land.

"Plots beside Taunton Road and two fields at Hither Mead have been designated and the plan has been reasonably well accepted following a series of consultation events and a survey sent to every home.

"People aren't falling over themselves to have additional housing in the village, but the process will hopefully see us end up with a bigger village, but a better one than we currently have in terms of facilities.

"The process gives us more control over what happens in the village."

If a majority of voters back the plan, the council will receive 25per cent of the £125 developers pay per square metre of housing they build - currently parishes get 10per cent, with the rest going to the district council - to spend in their community.

A Taunton Deane Council spokeswoman said the referendum is on Thursday, May 5, coinciding with the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner election.

She added: "Work on the plan began with grass roots information gathering with questionnaires for residents as well as exhibitions and data collection.

"This was followed by studies on topics from green spaces and transport to housing and infrastructure.

"Planning policies were drafted and issued for consultations involving local people and statutory organisations such as Somerset County Council, the Environment Agency and Natural England.

"The draft plan was then submitted to Taunton Deane Council for further consultation before being considered by independent examiner John Mattocks who has just reported back on his findings.

"His report recommended – subject to minor amendments – that the plan should now progress to a local referendum."