MORE than 3,000 Malvern residents voted for their entire town council to resign after five hours of polling on Tuesday night.

The result leaves the Malvern Town Action Group claiming a landslide victory in the poll. But the mayor, Coun David Williams, has pointed to the turnout - 15.06 per cent - as evidence there is not mass support for the resignation call.

Adrian Ward, of Malvern Town Action Group, which instigated the poll, said: "It really is quite a substantial statement and to get 92 per cent voting in favour is an outstanding success from our point of view.

"It makes a very clear statement that people are not happy with the council, it would be nice to see a bigger turnout but I'm afraid it does not happen at this level and it was a disadvantage not to have poll cards."

Coun Williams said he would not be resigning as the majority of town residents had not asked him to.

"20,000 odd of the population gave me the impression they are happy with the performance of the town council," he said.

He said the council would come to a "corporate view" at a later date, possibly at its meeting scheduled for May 10 but that "the democratic system we operate is you are elected for a term of office".

The poll was an almost unique opportunity for residents to pass judgement on the performance of their councillors outside the normal election timetable.

The question they were asked was: "Do you think that the entire council should resign and that the councillors should stand for re-election to give the taxpayers the opportunity to express their views on the performance and increased expenditure by the town council."

A total of 3,093 residents voted for resignation - 92.6 per cent - with 246 against - 7.4 per cent - and one spoilt paper.

The highest turnout was in Priory at 16.67 per cent and the lowest in the combined Chase and Langland wards with 14.24 per cent.

By comparison with other town council elections the turnout was reasonably good, particularly as no polling cards were sent out to residents.

The turnout for the town council election in Langland ward last May was 19.57 per cent, although that was combined with Malvern Hills District Council elections.

A town council by-election in Malvern Link in November 1999 resulted in a turn-out of 15.46 per cent with the help of polling cards. By-elections held that September without polling cards gave a turnout of 4.63 per cent in Langland ward and 5.57 per cent in Malvern West.

Final Result:

Yes: 3,093

No: 246

Turnout: Chase and Langland, 1,352 (14.24 per cent); Link, 701 (16.16 per cent); Priory, 343 (16.67 per cent); Trinity, 678 (14.84 per cent); West, 266, 15.56 per cent.

Total votes cast: 3,340. Total electorate: 22,172.