LIKE a fool I have again allowed myself to be persuaded to put my name forward for election to Horspath Parish Council on May 7.

Last Thursday I went to the council offices in Abingdon to collect a nomination form and duly filled it in along with a proposer and seconder. Today (March 31) I returned to Abingdon to deliver the form back by hand.

But unbeknown to me it would appear that April Fools Day has come a day early, because when I tried to hand over my nomination form I was told I would have to make an appointment to see one of the election team who would take my form.

There were several other people behind me waiting to hand in nomination forms and just like me they knew nothing about having to make an appointment.

When I was given the form last week there was a handwritten note attached to it saying ‘this form is to be returned by hand between March 25 and April 9 and between 10am and 4pm’.

Nowhere did it mention making a appointment. I seem to remember there were problems at the last election with people not receiving their voting cards on time so is this the election officers’ way of putting things right by discouraging people from standing for election.

KEITH BROOKS
Gateley, Horspath