Polling District, Polling Places and Polling Station Review

Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Electoral Administration Act 2006 and the Review of Polling District & Polling Places (Parliamentary Elections) Regulations 2006, Torfaen County Borough Council has a duty to divide the district into polling districts and to designate a polling place for each polling district.  It also has to keep these arrangements under review.  In order to comply with the above legislation Torfaen County Borough Council is required to complete a full review of all polling districts and polling places every four years.  The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a change to the timing of compulsory reviews of UK Parliamentary polling districts and polling places.  The compulsory review must be completed between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020.

A recent review of the above has been carried out.  Consultation has taken place with County Borough Council members, Community Council members and members of the public. 

• A petition and five letters of objection were received against the closure of the polling station at Cwmavon Hall due to a loss of income and inconvenience to electors due to the distance for electors to travel. Cwmavon Hall will remain as a polling station.
• With regards to relocating the polling station at Ysgol Panteg, four letters were received supporting and one opposing and two letters were received supporting relocation but recommending alternative venues. After investigation it was found that St Oswald’s Church would be the most appropriate.
• Emmaus School Hall building has now closed and although we have received two objections relating to the move at present no other venue is available therefore the polling station will relocate to The Hope Centre.
• Following complaints from previous elections the recommendation to open an additional polling station at Pontnewynydd Sports and Social Club has received two letters of support and will be used in future elections.
• We received three letters of support and two letters opposing the closure of the Scout Hut polling station and relocating at Richmond Road Church.  Following a risk assessment it is found that the scout hut building does not offer security for staff and electors.  For future elections Richmond Road will be used as a dual station.
• The relocation of the polling station from Llantarnam Primary School to Oakfield Community Centre received seven letters of support. Oakfield Community Centre will be used for future elections.
• The closure of Pontrhydyrun Baptist Church received two letters of opposition but due to the building being unavailable at previous elections we will continue to use Glaslyn Court.
• Two letters were received supporting the closure of the polling station at Henllys Church of Wales School and combining it with Henllys Village Hall. Unfortunately this is not possible as they serve different polling districts.
• Further letters were received opposing the use of schools as polling stations and supporting the use mobile stations and supermarkets to encourage voters where no suitable venues can be found.

The formal review is now concluded.  However, if in future any polling station becomes unavailable, the Returning Officer will consider whether another polling station could be designated within the polling place.  Changing the polling station within the polling place would not require a review.

If a building becomes unavailable before an election, the polling place can be changed by the local authority and the persons entitled to make changes to polling places be contacted.

Between formal reviews all polling places and stations used will be kept under consideration and an evaluation of their suitability carried out after each election.