RESIDENTS have been left in the bizarre position of paying taxes to their town - but not being allowed to vote.

About 20 people living on the boundary between Silloth and Holme Low - which cuts through The Lido Village - found that in the last town council election in May they were unable to vote.

Allerdale Council is now looking into the problem, but no changes are expected to be implemented until April next year.

Concerned residents contacted Silloth town council to ask for their help, who discussed it at a meeting on September 2.

Lindsay Tomlinson addressed the meeting on behalf of Allerdale Council, outlining the next steps for the town, which will see a boundary review take place and residents consulted.

It was also confirmed at the meeting that a review of councillor numbers may also need to be carried out, but this would not take effect until the next Silloth town council election in 2023.

Parish councillor for Holme Low, Margaret Wright, said: “Hopefully it is going to be sorted out soon. Allerdale is in the process of sorting it out.

“To follow the procedures they said they are going to put it to Silloth and Holme Low residents first.”

Silloth town councillor Tony Markley says he has spoken to concerned residents. He explained: “People have contacted the town clerk and I have spoken to people say they couldn’t vote.

“It has come as a bit of a shock to everybody. It has always been that way, but people have only realised now.

“It is probably because we haven’t had an election in Silloth for a while, now we’ve had one it came to their attention.”

A spokesman for Allerdale Council confirmed that they are working on resolving the issue.

He said: “Whilst not a major problem in that it is within Allerdale’s power to rectify the issue through a statutory process, it is clearly of concern to the residents affected which is why we are looking to resolve the matter as quickly as legislation will allow.”

The problem can not be immediately resolved though, confirmed the spokesman.

He added: “Allerdale Council has the power to change a parish council boundary following a Community Governance Review process.

“A report is being presented to full council on September 25 to seek approval to start that process and to set up a working group to undertake the review.

“Once the statutory consultations have been completed the working group will present their findings back to full council with a recommendation on whether to amend the boundary.

“Any boundary amendments can only take effect from April 1 (for council tax purposes) therefore if council agrees to the boundary change then it would take effect on April 20, 2020.”