Devon councillors have expressed their fears about how safe and practical it is for the May local elections to go ahead as planned.

The Government has confirmed that the May 6 elections would be going ahead as scheduled, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

They said that that the public health response to Covid-19, not least the vaccination programme, means that they can commit to go ahead with the polls with confidence.

As well as the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, the regularly scheduled 2021 Devon County Council elections will take place, as well as a series of delayed by-elections, and Neighbourhood Plan referendums on May 6.

There will be an estimated £92 million of government grant funding that will be provided to local authorities for the elections; of this, £31 million is an uplift to directly address costs associated with making the elections Covid-19 secure.

But concerns have been raised by existing Devon County councillors over whether it was necessary to hold the elections in May, and given the current guidance that canvassing and leafleting as part of campaigning would be against the law, how safe and fair the level playing field for Independent candidates is.

However, Cllr Christine Channon, councillor for Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton Coastal, said she welcomes the Government announcement.

She added: “We now know where we stand. I have read the guidelines they have produced and it is apparent that a good deal of careful thought has gone in to designing the elections in a safe way given our present pandemic situation.

“The roll out of vaccinations has been impressive in this country and especially in our area. The Government is now saying that by May they intend to offer vaccinations to all residents over the age of 50.

“If we value democracy, it is important for these elections to go forward. In our area there will be both County Council Elections and elections for the Police Commissioner, plus any by-elections that may be outstanding.

“Delays will only cause confusion in budgets which run from April to April and whoever forms the new administration at Devon CC will wish to set out their four-year plan.”