For three days people in the two coastal villages and surrounding area had the chance to say how they felt about the plans to buy the hostel, closed by Scottish Youth Hostel Association, and when the votes were counted on Tuesday morning of the 433 people who voted, 411 were in favour of the Coldingham Sands Community Company buy-out.
When SYHA announced last year that the Coldingham hostel was one of several it planned to close a group of residents and business people in the area got together to look at putting in a bid to purchase the building under Scottish Right To Buy legislation.
Their main concern was the impact its loss would have on the coast villages' tourism businesses.
They set up a company, Coldingham Sands Community Company, registered their interest in the buy-out with the Scottish Government and approached the Big Lottery about their plans.
They received a positive response from the Government who described their business plan as "robust" and lottery officials indicated their interest in the project.
But without the overwhelming support of the community at large the plans to spend £425,000 on buying the building and a further £0.5 million on essential maintenance, repairs and refurbishment, would have come to nothing.
Voting was overseen by Scottish Borders Council officials and over 50 per cent of the electorate had to cast their vote for the result to stand. Using the 2007 electoral role the group behind the community buy-out soon realised how many premises in the area lie empty and how quickly the electoral role can change.
However, they managed to secure votes from 55 per cent of those on the register which ensured the result was valid.
Now that the community has shown its support the buy-out can proceed and grant applications made to raise the daunting amount of money needed.
The community company now needs to raise £22,500 (five per cent of the purchase price) by January next year.
In the next few weeks an important public meeting is being held when company positions will be up for election.
"We want to pull new people in," explained current chairman Ged Hearn. "The team that got it going realise we need some fresh blood which is why posts will be up for election at the public meeting which will be a company meeting.
"People are very pleased that its happening and the company members are very well aware of the amount of work that has to be done.
"The real work is about to begin.
"Thanks to the dozens of people who put in time and effort. And great thanks to the all who took the time to vote and who have shown that the maintenance of a thriving tourist industry is key to the economic survival of the communities of the Borders."
The aim is to have the hostel open for business in time for next year's tourist season and the first step is to recruit a project manager to oversee the work required.
"We are busy seeking funds at the moment and a recent bag pack at Morrisons was hugely successful, bringing in almost £1,000," said Ged.