A BID has been launched for Colchester to become a trial area for the voting age to be lowered to 16.

Colchester Council’s Labour group leader Tim Young is set to move a motion at a full council meeting next week asking for 16 year-olds to be able to vote in future borough elections, and for the authority to support a lowering across the board.

Mr Young stood as Labour candidate in last month’s General Election and said he saw many people frustrated at being unable to cast their vote.

He said: “The General Election saw an unprecedented number of young people wanting to participate and engage in politics.

“It was really enthusing and energising to witness and many 16 and 17-year-olds who I met during the course of the campaign were very frustrated they could not vote and have their say on policies which would affect their futures.

“Reducing the voting age to 16 is a policy whose time has come in the UK and I want to put Colchester at the forefront of the campaign to make this change.

“It is already in effect in Scotland so I think it is right that we follow suit.”

One seat in each of Colchester Council’s 17 wards will be up for election next May, while a by-election is set to be called in Shrub End in the next few weeks after Karen Chaplin (Lib Dem) resigned.

Conservative group leader Dennis Willetts said young people should be asked whether they want to vote.

He said: “Some people are politically minded at 16, understand issues and should be entitled to vote - others, however, do not seem to live in this world.

“Perhaps we should be asking the youngsters themselves if they want a vote and if they want it in national or local elections.

“There should be a town-wide debate for the young people and ask them if they want to.”

Mr Willetts added: “I believe Tim thinks he would get more support out of it, but there is certainly a deeper issue here.

“Their priorities at that age are different and I think if you are to give them the vote then you have to be prepared for the issues they are going to raise.” Liberal Democrat group leader Martin Goss said he would back a plan to lower the age.

He said: “It is Lib Dem policy to give young people the choice to have their vote.

“Although it is unlikely Colchester will be used as a trial area because it would have to mean the whole of the country changes, we will support the motion.”