Polling Places Review – changes in 13 polling districts

A review of polling districts and polling places in North Norfolk has resulted in the amalgamation of two polling districts and ten changes in polling places.

The changes follow a review last year of polling districts (the areas into which wards and constituencies are broken down, so convenient electoral arrangements can be made for communities) and polling places (the buildings or areas where voting takes place — and which will house polling stations). The review was a chance for interested organisations such as parish councils, disability and access groups, and the general public to contribute to the discussions, to say whether they thought the current arrangements were appropriate and accessible and to respond to the Returning Officer’s initial proposals. A total of 48 comments were received, all of which were considered during the deliberations, and advice on the whole process was received from the Electoral Commission. The Council also took into account the relevant criteria set out in the Representation of the People Act before approving the final recommendations.

The changes, which take immediate effect, are as follows:

• the polling districts of Gunthorpe (South) and Gunthorpe (North) both within the parish of Gunthorpe, will be merged into a new single polling district of Gunthorpe.
• the polling place for the polling districts of East and West Beckham will move from the Wheatsheaf pub to West Beckham Church, West Beckham
• to re-site the polling place in the appropriate polling district, the polling place for the polling district of North Walsham North will move from the Community Centre to St Johns Ambulance Hall, North Walsham, and the polling place for the polling district of North Walsham Town will move from The Saddlers Shop to Sacred Heart Parish Hall, North Walsham

• because of the closure of the current polling place, the polling place for the polling district of Scottow will move from Three Horseshoes pub to the Battle of Britain Memorial Hall, Scottow

• a number of polling districts have fewer than 100 electors and where this is the case they will in future vote in the next polling district, as follows: the electors in the polling district of Ingworth will vote in the neighbouring polling district of Erpingham; the electors in the polling district of Morston will vote in the neighbouring polling district of Blakeney; the electors in the polling district of Sidestrand will vote in the neighbouring polling district of Trimingham; the electors in the polling district of Dunton will vote in the neighbouring polling district of Hempton; the electors in the polling district of Horsey will vote in the neighbouring polling district of Sea Palling.

• The electors in the now merged polling districts of Gunthorpe (South) and Gunthorpe (North) will vote in the new single polling district of Gunthorpe. The polling place for Gunthorpe will be Gunthorpe Village Institute

• On the request of the Parish Council, the electors in the polling district of Plumstead will be transferred from Little Barningham Village Hall and vote instead at Baconsthorpe Village Hall

• On the request of the Town Council, the electors in the polling district of Cromer Town East will be transferred from Merchants Place, Church Street and vote instead at Cromer Community Centre, Garden Street, Cromer.

The Returning Officer agreed to review the polling place for Sheringham North and Sheringham South when the new Community Centre in Holway Road opens and the old one closes.
Where a polling station has closed as a result of this review and electors are being asked to travel to a neighbouring parish to vote, a concerted campaign to encourage postal voting will take place in the early part of 2012 ready for any future elections, and a timetabled minibus service will be trialed for those who would prefer to vote at the designated polling place at the time of an election.
NNDC Cabinet Member for Democratic Services, Tom FitzPatrick, said, “These changes are very sensible and will make the process more efficient. They will also save some money, although this was not the object of the exercise. They will make it easier for some electors to cast their votes without making it any more difficult for others. Every elector will continue to enjoy personal choice in how they might wish to cast their vote.”
A copy of the consultation document it is available on the NNDC website at http:/www.northnorfolk.org/council/8850.asp

A copy of the full review documents which include the Notice of Conclusion, consultees’ comments and information about the manner in which further representations may be made in connection with the Council’s and Returning Officer’s decisions are available for public inspection. These documents can be viewed at the Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer NR27 9EN and also on the NNDC website at http://www.northnorfolk.org/council/9317.asp

ENDS