Residents in Much Wenlock headed to the ballot box today to vote on whether more housing should be built in the town while flooding and traffic problems remain unresolved.

The referendum has been forced by a group of residents who claim the town cannot cope with more development.

They are calling for Bridgnorth District Council to impose a blanket ban on future development.

The vote was held after the group of seven residents invoked a rarely applied law to have the parish poll.

They claim development has added to the town’s flooding problems, which saw more than 50 homes damaged during the deluges this summer. The group also feels the town’s roads cannot cope.

Today’s referendum follows a public meeting when residents voted 43 to 3 in favour of holding the parish referendum under a rarely applied section of the 1972 Local Government Act. It had to be held within 25 days of the meeting.

The voting was taking place at The Priory Hall, Bull Ring, between 4pm and 9pm and the result will be sent to Bridgnorth District Council, although it is not legally binding on the authority.

The district council’s democratic services manager, Adrian Dean, said: “We are expecting a higher turn-out than at normal elections as it is an issue that affects the town directly.”

County councillor for Much Wenlock, Dave Gibbon, said he was also expecting a good turn-out.

He said: “People see it as an opportunity to show their frustration. It’s fairly obvious that it is not right to continue building houses with the way things are.”