Warwick District Council – Polling Stations Review – 2023 Submission from Warwick & Leamington Constituency Labour Party
This submission is from the Warwick & Leamington Constituency Labour Party in response to Warwick District Council’s five-year polling stations review, October - December 2023.
The submission addresses both general issues relating to all the polling stations and makes specific recommendations for individual stations.
General
Privacy for voter ID checking
The review specifically considered private voter ID checking, and implies that there should be a space separate to the polling station area itself where this can take place. With a much higher turnout at a GE, this will become more of an issue.
Although quite a number of the polling stations do not have this facility, the review says nothing about how this is going to be addressed, nor indeed whether a polling station which does not have these facilities will not be used in future.
Consider mitigating actions such as erecting internal screens within the polling station spaces to create a private space, using a space in a closely adjacent building, or erecting an external marquee.
Disability access and parking
The reviews of the polling stations specifically looked at disabled access and parking. The scope of these comments relate to those with physical disabilities, and who require wheelchair access.
Several of the polling stations are noted as inadequate in this regard, but without any stated plan for improvement.
Some polling stations require installation of better ramps, steps, and handrails. Mitigating action should be considered.
Where a suitable number of disabled parking places is not available, consideration should be given to, where necessary, redesignating general parking places as disabled places for election days.
General voter parking
Where a suitable number of general voter parking places are not available, consideration should be given to, where necessary, redesignating nearby paid parking places as free for election days.
Hearing loops
The reviews specifically looked at whether polling stations have a hearing induction loop installed. All but one do not. Nearly 10% of the UK population have hearing difficulties, and the Electoral Commission guidance (https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-returning-officers-assistance-voting-disabled-voters/ensuring-voting-accessible/providing-equipment-polling-station-enables-or-makes-voting-easier-disabled-voters)
suggests that consideration is given to installing hearing loops.
The review makes no comment as to what action WDC intends to take, having identified the lack of hearing loops.
Review data
The review seems to have been in done in something of a hurry. For a number of wards on the consultation website, not all of the polling districts and polling stations are listed. Also, a number of the accompanying maps give incorrect polling station information.
The polling districts transferring into Warwick & Leamington from Kenilworth & Southam currently retain the previous polling district IDs although all have been allocated to Warwick & Leamington wards and polling stations. We assume that these districts will have new IDs in time for the next elections.
Comments on specific wards and polling stations
The polling stations on which we want to make specific comments are in the table below.
In particular, the overcrowding in the Syndi Centre and WarwickSpace needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency.
As a general point, given the limited capacity and inadequate facilities of a number of the available public buildings, might not portacabins or other temporary structures be considered in some wards, but of course with all the necessary access and facilities.
|
Ref |
District(s) |
Polling Place |
CLP comments |
|
|
Radford Semele |
|
|
|
42 |
KMC |
St. Margaret's Church Room, School Lane, Hunningham, CV33 9DS |
This polling station is clearly inadequate and should be replaced. However, the recommendation to move it to Eathorpe Village Hall is also inadequate. Distance to Eathorpe is 1.8 miles, and there is no public transport. EXPLORE an alternate venue within Hunningham. See general point above
|
|
|
Bishops Tachbrook |
|
|
|
47, 48 |
WAA, 2 stations |
Bishops Tachbrook Sports & Social Club STATION A, The Playing Fields, Kingsley Road, CV33 9RR |
There is a planned increase in electorate (by 2028) from 1735 to 3330. The access and accessibility issues should be addressed. |
|
49, 50 |
WAB, 2 stations |
Heathcote Parish Church STATION A, Warwick Gates Community Centre, Cressida Close, CV34 6DZ |
This polling station serves an electorate of 3000, but is outside the polling district, with an average walking time of 20-25 minutes. REPLACE with a Polling Station within the Polling District, for example, Heathcote Primary School |
|
|
Clarendon |
|
|
|
64, 65 |
WHA, WHB |
Dale Street Methodist Church STATIONs A & B, Dale Street, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 5HL |
The Victoria Park ward, WHB and WHE is split into two, with 500 voters going to Dale St, and 500 to Dormer Place. Consider combining in a new polling station. |
|
69, 70 |
WHF |
Holy Trinity Parish Hall STATION B, Trinity Street (Car Park Entrance), Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 5RG |
Holy Trinity Is also a polling station for Milverton and there are nearly 2000 Clarendon ward voters going to this polling station. SUGGEST: find a polling station more central within the ward. |
|
|
LILLINGTON |
|
|
|
74, 75 |
WJC, WJD |
Lillington Youth Centre, Mason Avenue, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 7PE |
WJD is to be moved to the Youth Centre (from Family Centre). How is the confusion mentioned going to be overcome? |
|
|
Milverton |
|
|
|
81.82 |
WKC, WKD, KKC |
St. Mark`s Church Hall STATION A, St. Mark's Road, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 6DL |
KKC is part of Milverton that is now in Warwick & Leamington. SUGGEST continue to use Trinity Catholic School , which is in the polling district. |
|
37 |
KJA, |
Telford Junior School (School Hall), Telford Avenue, CV32 7HP |
KJA is now in W&L. SUGGEST continue using the Helen Ley centre which is in the centre of the polling district. |
|
|
WILLES |
|
|
|
88- 91 |
WLD, WLE, WLF, WLG |
Sydni Centre (Main Hall) STATION C, Cottage Square, Off Marloes Walk, CV31 1PT |
Need to see a solution to the overcrowding. Also, quite a distance from electors in Chesterton Heights and Chesterton Gardens. Consider new polling station in Sydenham Community Centre or Sydenham Primary School |
|
|
ALL SAINTS & WOODLOES |
|
|
|
95 |
WND |
Warwickspace STATION B, (formerly Warwick Youth Centre), 71 Coten End, CV34 4NU
|
How is the fact that the space is cramped going to be addressed? |
|
|
MYTON & HEATHCOTE |
|
|
|
106 |
WRA |
Warwickspace STATION A, (formerly Warwick Youth Centre), 71 Coten End, CV34 4NU |
How is the fact that the space is cramped going to be addressed? |
|
107, 108 |
WRB |
Temporary Building STATION A, Myton Fields Car Park, Myton Road, CV34 4QY |
SEEK permanent buildings for the polling stations |
|
109 |
WRB |
Temporary Building, (Grassed area), Fusiliers Way |
SEEK permanent buildings for the polling stations, particularly to accommodate increased electorate |
|
|
SALTISFORD |
|
|
|
114 |
WSB |
Packmores Centre, Sussex Court, Lyttelton Road, CV34 5EP |
SEEK a new venue to overcome the cramped conditions |
|
115 |
WSC |
The John Turner Centre, Warwick Hospital (Car Park), Lakin Road, CV34 5BW |
Moving out of the hospital as proposed is imperative. |
|
119 |
WSG |
Warwickspace STATION C, (formerly Warwick Youth Centre), 71 Coten End, CV34 4NU |
How is the fact that the space is cramped going to be addressed? |
|
|
WHITNASH |
|
|
|
122 |
WTC |
Whitnash Methodist Church, Murcott Road East, Whitnash, CV31 2JJ |
Overcome obstruction problems |