THE timetable for the Gloucestershire County Council elections, due to take place on Thursday, May 2, has been released – shows that voters in the Forest have only two weeks now to apply for a postal vote if they are unable to attend the polling stations on the day.

Wednesday April 17 is the cut-off date for all new postal vote applications, and is also the deadline for changes or cancellations to existing postal and proxy votes. New applications to appoint a proxy must be received by Wednesday April 24. All proxy and postal votes are handled by the Electoral Registrations Officer, based in the District Council offices in Coleford.

There are eight areas, or 'electoral divisions', being contested for, with each area electing one County Councillor. The individual areas are: Blakeney and Bream, Cinderford, Coleford, Drybrook and Lydbrook, Lydney, Mitcheldean, New­ent, and Sedbury.

Nominations to stand as a candidate for the elections have to be received by the Deputy Returning Officer at the District Council Offices in High Street, Coleford by noon on April 5. Nomination papers for anyone wishing to stand for one of the divisions are available from the Deputy Returning Officer before that date.

•Each of the Forest of Dean District Councillors who are members of the five-strong Forest of Dean District Council Cabinet are all due to stand in this years' County Council elections – netting them a potential £ 5,250 Basic Allowance per year, plus Special Responsibility Allowance, and Travel and Subsistence Allowance.

The County Council website shows the totals in Allowances paid to the County Councillors, featuring one payout to the leader of the Council that amounted to over £22,000 for the period from April 1 2011 to March 31 2012.