From Bob Blezzard, Sandown:

Several months ago, in a virtual meeting with the MP, I raised the issue of the 2021 local elections and asked what measures were being planned in order to safeguard the public in the event of a second spike of the Covid-19 virus.

I suggested that one option would be to consider all postal voting.

Mr Seely was dismissive of the idea of a second spike and went on to give a lecture about how much worse the flu pandemic of 1919 was.

I suspect that if we spoke now the rhetoric would be somewhat different.

The government has said that this year’s elections will take place on May 6 although I am not ruling out the possibility of a delay.

When it comes to u-turns this government has form.

Whenever the elections go ahead the council will have a responsibility to ensure the democratic process takes place safely for both voters and election staff.

I have raised this issue in a written question to the Isle of Wight Council meeting taking place on Wednesday this week.

I have suggested that in order to maximise the number of electors voting by post the council should consider sending out postal vote application forms with council tax bills.

I await the response with interest.

While the rollout of the vaccines is to be welcomed this will not have resolved all the safety issues by the time of the elections and I am concerned many people will have concerns about voting in person.

For the benefit of your readers postal vote application forms can be downloaded from the council’s website or are available on request by telephoning the council on 821000.

Completed forms should be returned to electoral services, County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1UD.