FEARS have been expressed that voters, particularly elderly people, living in rural areas may not vote in elections after a decision by Kennet District Council to remove a number of polling stations.

However, Kennet's returning officer for elections Mark Boden has played down the risk of lost votes by guaranteeing that voters who have lost a polling station in their village will be offered the opportunity of voting by post.

At a Kennet full council meeting on Tuesday councillors backed proposals by Mr Boden to withdraw polling stations from Manton, Wilcot, Wilsford, Little Cheverell, Fosbury, Axford and Stert.

Mr Boden said the provision of a polling station in the villages was not cost effective as there was a small number of voters.

He said: "We are not talking about huge amounts of money in running a polling station but we need at least two staff to run a polling station and staff are not easy to come by.

"For those villages that will no longer have a polling place we will write to the small number of electors concerned and make sure they know there is the opportunity of a postal vote and we will also tell them where the nearest polling station will be if they want to vote in person."

Mr Boden said for those who wanted to vote in person Manton residents would go to Marlborough Leisure Centre, while Wilcot residents would go to Oare Village Hall, Wilsford people would go to Rushall Village Hall, Fosbury residents would go to Shalbourne Village Hall, Axford residents would go to Ramsbury Memorial Hall, Little Cheverell residents would go to West Lavington Village Hall and Stert residents would go to Urchfont Village Hall.

Mr Boden said at the next elections in May this year which will be the county council elections and possibly a general election there would be 18 eligible voters in Wilsford, 22 in Little Cheverell, 10 in Fosbury, 29 in Axford and 25 in Stert.

Liddy Davidson, director of Age Concern Wiltshire, said she was concerned that elderly people without transport may be put off voting.

She said: "We think two thirds of people over 55 will be looking to vote at the next general election. Older people are likely to be the key in deciding the next Government and it's vital that they have the opportunity to vote.

"We would want full consideration given to enabling everyone in villages to vote."

Devizes MP Michael Ancram said: "I will look very closely at these closures as it is essential that voters have reasonable access to polling stations and that the new location is not a disincentive to vote."

Sharon Charity, Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Devizes, said: "At a time when the vote has never been lower and all of us who care about democracy must surely want to make it easier for people to vote I am shocked that Kennet is discussing shutting these polling stations.

"This is environmental nonsense on top of everything else. It will lead to fewer people voting which is a bad thing."

Councillors did agree to look again at the provision of polling stations for Marlborough West electors as they considered Marlborough Leisure Centre too far to travel.

Also, the Army Cadet Centre at le Marchant Barracks, Devizes, will not be the venue for Roundway electors, as proposed by Mr Boden, and alternative venues will be sought.

Former Mayor of Marlborough Maurice Cooper, who lives in Manton, said he could see no advantage in voters having to go to the leisure centre rather than at their own village hall.

Kennet officers have said better parking is available at the leisure centre.

However Coun Cooper said he was not aware of any parking difficulties near Manton Village Hall that has traditionally been used as the village polling station.

He said: "I wouldn't have thought parking would be any easier at the leisure centre especially at busy times."

Coun Cooper added: "A lot of people from the village will probably not bother to vote at all."

Disenchanted council tax payer Brian Williams said: "It won't make a lot of difference. I probably won't bother to vote anyway."