The town once branded the least democratic in Cornwall will not host a local poll again this May for the sixth year in a row, the council has heard.

Penryn was named the “lowest performing area” in the county by Cornwall Council last August, after just 59 per cent of households returned their electoral registration forms.

In a dramatic turnaround for the town, the elections team at county are now reporting a 91 per cent return rate, thanks to “house to house canvassers, reminders and publicity,” according to a Cornwall Council spokeswoman.

Yet Penryn residents are still unwilling to put themselves forward for election, with only the bare minimum number of candidates standing this time around.

“We won’t have an election,” town clerk Michelle Davey told councillors at their April meeting, “because we have filled all 16 seats and we don’t have more candidates than seats.”

Indeed, the town council after May will look much the same as it does now except for the departure of Derek Prynn, who recently became a grandfather, and Gary Mockett, who will be concentrating on his role at the town’s museum.

Their replacements will be John Hodge and Mebyon Kernow party member David Garwood.

Councillor Martin Mullins said while, “for the sake of continuity”, the lack of change was good, he added: “It does fly in the face of democracy.”

“We have not had an election in six years. People must look at the town and say what can I do to make things better?”

Ted Wilkes agreed that, “it all starts with this chamber”, but questioned what more the council could do to encourage candidates.

“If people are interested in joining the council then they will do it,” he said.

Mayor Gill Grant said: “Quite a lot of people took forms but then didn’t do anything about it, so what can you do? And we will have two new councillors, which is good.”