Quid Pro Quo?

I was going to write about the Conservative Party's invincible ignorance of rural England, but of that another time. If some suitably large proportion of those who voted in a referendum at Parish or Ward level (a referendum paid for by whom? what next, setting up your own schools?) is to be able to approve a development, then how about also giving it the power to block one? In that case, some of us might be a bit more persuadable.