The Cumbrian town of Whitehaven is the latest community in England to get the go ahead for a new town council following a campaign to give local people more power.
Copeland’s district councillors backed the move following in the footsteps of neighbours in Eden who recently gave the thumbs up for the creation of a new council for Penrith.
Both councils will be established in April with elections following in May.
A consultation with residents in Whitehaven showed 75 per cent supported a town council, with two thirds of local people in Penrith voting in favour of establishing their own town council in a ballot.
Cllr Ken Browse, chairman of the National Association of Local Councils said: 'I’m delighted Penrith and Whitehaven residents have voted so overwhelmingly for their own town councils, bringing power and decision making closer to home.
'This is a real shot in the arm for local democracy.'
