A REFUSAL to consider use of Tavistock Town Hall for by-elections was greeted with indignation by town councillors at their meeting last week.

The town clerk wrote to West Devon Borough Council's elections officer Tony Rose in April, offering the use of the town hall as an alternative to the pannier market which is currently used as a polling station.

The suggestion meant traders in the market would not lose income on polling days.

The town council was told that Mr Rose replied to the council on November 7.

He said: 'I have canvassed opinion of my six ward members on your proposal.

'Five are supportive, however, one is vehemently opposed on grounds of access and accessibility.'

Mr Rose said a polling station should be readily identifiable by electors and easily accessible. He was concerned elderly voters would be unable to register a vote in the town hall if there was a power cut and the lift didn't work.

He said lighting in the hall was bad and people with impaired vision would 'experience severe difficulties' — also to change the venue to the town hall would cause confusion.

Cllr Norma Woodcock said one person's views out of six appeared to have 'won the day' — she felt Mr Rose's argument was 'feeble'.

'I would like the town hall to be looked at again,' she said. 'We have extremely good access to the lift, with help available. It's in the centre of the town and parking is as good there as for the pannier market.'

She also pointed out that use of the market as a polling station was 'relatively new'.

Cllr Judith Williams said the town hall lift was still operable in the event of power failure and Cllr Peter Donkin said light in Whitchurch Village Hall, also used for polling, was 'atrocious'.

Cllr Caroline Keane and Cllr Robin Pike both felt the town hall would be more comfortable for election staff and voters.

Cllr Pike said: 'When we've had November by-elections the polling staff have been frozen — we also have canteen facilities in the town hall.'

Members agreed to write back to the borough, stressing the positive advantages of using the town hall for by-elections.