GORSEINON taxpayers will have to pay the price for democracy again with another £4,500 election bill looming.

Gorseinon Town Council is on the lookout for a new member following the resignation of Penyrheol ward representative Alan Jopling.

It will be the council's third election in less than a year.

Mr Jopling, who is also a county councillor for Penyrheol, stood down after town clerk John Millard advised him that if he did not attend the council's March meeting he would be de-selected as a councillor.

It is council policy that if members miss six consecutive meetings without good reason, they would lose their position on the town council.

Mr Jopling, who now lives and works in Nantwich, Cheshire, three days a week, resigned because he said he was unavailable to attend meetings on a Wednesday.

In a letter Mr Millard received on February 8, Mr Jopling said: "As you know, I am working away from Gorseinon at the beginning of each week and find it impossible to attend meetings on Wednesday.

"I would like to sincerely wish all councillors, whatever their political standing, all the very best in their future plans for Gorseinon."

The council has publicly advertised Mr Jopling's seat, and will now have to hold an election following inquiries from the public.

More than 10 requests have been received calling for an election for the Penyrheol ward — the statutory number needed to call an election.

A provisional date has been booked for Thursday, April 15.

The last election in July 2009 cost the council £4,591 to replace Alison Seabourne, and, three months earlier, it cost £4,200 to find a new member to take Sadie Clayfield's seat.

All elections have been held in the Penyrheol ward.

Council clerk John Millard described the latest circumstances as "necessary, but unfortunate".

He said: "It's very much the decision of the electorate, and something we have to abide by because of Swansea Council rules.

"They say if we get more than 10 people calling for an election, we have to hold one.

"The closing date for candidates is at the end of the month.

"It is something that has been taken out of our hands now.

"We are working with Swansea Council in order to minimise costs.

"This money comes out of our precept, and we try to advise if they can run to the end of their term to minimise costs."

Mr Millard said the council was now without a county council representative due to Mr Jopling's departure.

He said: "We are now in the unfortunate position of not having a councillor to report on county issues, although we are technically able to contact Mr Jopling about county matters just like the other county members for Gorseinon and Penyrheol."

During the 2009/10 term, Mr Jopling attended eight out of 43 (19 per cent) of Swansea Council meetings including full council, area two development control committee, planning committee attendance, finance, audit and business improvement scrutiny board attendance and health, social care and well being overview board.

He has attended seven out of 15 full council meetings, with the last being in February.

Mr Jopling was unavailable for comment yesterday.

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk