SIR – Following the poor turnout for the recent elections. It is time for the UK to go the Australian route and have a compulsory vote. With a box saying none of the above to register a protest. We cannot have a healthy democracy if the most of us cannot

SIR - Following the poor turnout for the recent elections. It is time for the UK to go the Australian route and have a compulsory vote. With a box saying none of the above to register a protest.

We cannot have a healthy democracy if the most of us cannot even be bothered to vote.

Brian Payne, Haynes Close, WGC.

Sir - A big thank you to all of you in Howlands and Hollybush Wards who voted Green in the county council elections, and to all of you who voted Green all over the borough.

We got 11.1 per cent of the vote across the borough, and in Welwyn Garden City South (Howlands and Hollybush), we got 22.1 per cent of the vote.

Jill Weston, Green county council candidate, Welwyn Garden City South.

SIR - Could I thank the people who voted for me in the county council elections for Hatfield North, for the Welwyn Hatfield Keep the NHS Public campaign.

We will continue to argue against the policy of introducing polyclinics.

And we continue and oppose policies which will bring further privatisation into the health service such as world class commissioning, which the government seems determined to pursue .

Tony Wickenden, Orchard Mead, Hatfield.

SIR - I am writing to thank each of your readers who voted for no2eu - Yes to Democracy in the Euro elections.

Our Eastern Region total of 13,939, in a contest where only the establishment parties got any real media coverage, was a creditable achievement.

If any of your readers would like to help build a new workers' party, I'd be happy for them to contact me at steve.glennon@tesco.net.

Steve Glennon, Plash Drive, Stevenage.

SIR - I would like to thank all the people who voted for me in the county council elections on June 4. I am pleased to have been chosen to represent the people of the Hatfield South division, and will do my very best to serve all who live and work in the area.

Councillor Stuart Pile, Hertfordshire County Council, Hatfield South division.

SIR - Congratulations to Kieran Thorpe on his election as borough councillor in the previously held Conservative seat in Hatfield South.

Up and down the the country, the Tories are justifiably gloating at the scale of their election victories. It is, however, heartening that this ray of light for the Labour Party deservedly propels a dedicated and talented young guy into the local scene.

The electorate of Hatfield South have chosen well.

Councillor Mike Alder, Hatfield Central ward.

Sir - I am not a member of any political party but as a Hollybush resident I was dismayed to read that my Conservative borough councillor has only seen fit to attend five meetings in the year since her election.

I am also aware that she does not sit on any council committees and I believe she has never attended a councillor's surgery. She still receives the councillor's allowance of nearly �5,000, but what does she do for our ward to deserve this amount of taxpayers' money?

Yours disgustedly, name and address supplied.