AN independent councillor has written to the Harrogate borough's returning officer, urging him to rule against a bid for a parish poll on selective education, in Ripon.

More than ten people voted for a referendum on the issue at the city council's annual meeting, on Monday evening.

The returning officer now has to decide if all residents of the parish should have a say on whether Ripon Grammar School continues with the 11 plus exam.

However, Andrew Williams insists a poll would be invalid as the rules indicate they should only be held if the issues involved are limited to the parish. He argues, as children from across the district attend Ripon Grammar, there are wider implications.

Coun Williams also points out the campaign for change - led by possible Tory candidate at the county council elections, Stanley Mackintosh - has also appeared in a Conservative leaflet and could therefore be deemed political, which also breaches the 1986 Local Government Act.

"I will be pressing the returning officer to put an end to this nonsense. We simply don't need this poll, which would cost local taxpayers £5,000," he said.

However, Mr Mackintosh has contested the figures, claiming the poll need cost only a fraction of the sums envisaged by Coun Williams.

He said: "I hope the poll can be held in tandem with the county council elections, in which case the cost could be less than £500. I don't deny those Liberal Democrat councillors the costs of their own elections. Why should they try to deny the democratic rights of the people of Ripon?"