RESIDENTS in Muckhart have the chance to go to the polls next month to elect their community councillors.

Voting in their first ever community council election will take place on Wednesday 3 October.

This is only the third time there has been a contested election in one of Clackmannanshire's community council areas.

The contest is in respect of 12 places on the Muckhart Community Council, and there are 15 candidates.

The ballot, which is being conducted entirely by post, is required to give electors in the area the opportunity to choose the candidates they wish to see elected. Ballot papers will be issued to all electors by Friday 21 September with the closing date for return being Wednesday 3 October.

Elaine McPherson, the returning officer for Clackmannanshire, said, "This is a great response from Muckhart which validates the work of the community council in the past. It may be a small community, but as we can see it has a clear sense of identity.

"I am sure that the electors in Muckhart will take this opportunity to show their commitment and support to their Community Council by returning their ballot papers." The result for Muckhart was just one of six results declared last week.

After the nomination process, Alva, Menstrie and Dollar Community Councils elected unopposed the community councillors who will represent them.

However, insufficient numbers of nominations were received to allow two other community councils, Tullibody, Cambus and Glenochil and Clackmannan to form.

Although the result for these two Community Councils was disappointing this time, Provost Tina Murphy was hopeful that these two community councils will re-establish with minimum disruption to the vital role they play in their communities.

Provost Murphy said, "We know that there is strong interest in these two areas in having a Community Council and we very much encourage the residents who have come to us to say they wish to rectify this to take the next steps as soon as they can." A full list of newly elected Community Councillor appears on ClacksWeb at www.clacksweb.org.uk/council/communitycouncilelections/