In accordance with the Electoral
Administration Act 2006, Suffolk Coastal carried out a review
of polling districts, polling places and polling stations
within the district during 2007. Formal consultation took
place from 10 September to 2 November 2007.
A number of district councillors and parish representatives
responded to the consultation. The majority of responses indicated
that members and parishes are content with the electoral
arrangements within their ward or parish, particularly polling
stations, and have no desire to see any changes.
Results of the review
However a number of suggestions have been made which will be
pursued in 2008:
- A small number of caravans are used as polling stations which
have access issues for the disabled. These need to be reviewed
further, but in most cases there is no alternative suitable
building and the parish council would rather use a caravan than for
the parish electorate to vote at a polling station in a
neighbouring parish.
- Nacton Parish Council has requested that consideration be given
to an additional polling station at Nacton at Priory Court, Priory
Park which is some two miles from the village centre and is a
development for elderly residents. This is not strictly part of the
review but will be looked at in the future.
- Cookley and Walpole Parish Council has suggested that the new
pavilion at Walpole should be used as a polling station instead of
the Cookley and Walpole Primary School at Walpole. The Community
Centre has better parking, better disabled access and full
facilities for the voters as well as election staff. The use of the
Community Centre would also result in less disruption to the
school. This seems a sensible suggestion and will be
implemented.
- A small part of the Felixstowe North Ward currently votes in
the Felixstowe South East Ward at the Town Ground Pavilion,
Dellwood Avenue. This clearly complicates the count with the mixing
of ballot papers and this situation needs to be reviewed to
ascertain if it is still appropriate.
- The use of a mobile unit at Sainsburys, Warren Heath for the
Foxhall and Purdis farm polling districts is not ideal and requires
further review.
The results of the review were approved by the Council at its
meeting on 20 December 2007. Follow the links below to see the
report that went to Council, the minutes of the meeting and a
schedule showing the results of the review.
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