POLLING cards are to be issued for all by-elections in Trowbridge in future following complaints that some people were denied a chance to vote.

The decision was made by Trowbridge town councillors at their full council meeting on Tuesday January 21.

The move followed a complaint from Cllr Edward Kirk that poll cards were not issued for a recent by-election in Drynham ward in a bid to save costs.

Cllr Kirk, a Tory councillor, said the council's decision not to issue poll cards had resulted in a lower turn-out.

"Until they get a polling card, some people don't actually know that an election is taking place."

Liberal Democrat Cllr Andrew Bryant said the decision not to issue polling cards was "quite crass and undemocratic and should never happen again."

"I am quite sure that we suffered on the doorstep. Polling cards should be issued for all elections."

Town clerk Lance Allan said he had made the decision not to issue polling cards for the Drynham and Grove ward elections after consulting the leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties.

He told the meeting the cost of polling cards for the recent Drynham by-election would have been £2,106 and for the Grove ward election, £2,154.

The political make-up of Trowbridge town council has recently changed as a result of the elections.

The council is now controlled by the Liberal Democrats, who are now the largest party but they don't have an outright majority.

A Conservative councillor, Cllr Antonio Piazza, won Drynham ward, and a Liberal Democrat, Cllr Graham Hill, won the Grove seat