Mid Devon Launches Polling Review

Posted On: 02-10-2023
Posted In: Voting and elections

Mid Devon District Council is seeking community views about polling districts and polling stations within the district, as it launches a polling review.

By law the Council must conduct a full review of its parliamentary polling districts and places every five years. This is to ensure each parish has a separate polling district, that a designated polling place for each district (unless special circumstances apply) and to ensure all polling stations are accessible. The review does not look at altering boundaries or names of electoral areas.

While Mid Devon has until 2025 to carry out a review, as a general election may happen anytime between now and January 2025 the Council has decided to begin the process now, with a public consultation running from 2 October to 12 November 2023.

As part of the review the Council will be contacting the public, local organisations, as well as political parties.

Councillor Jane Lock, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Working Environment, said:

“The aim of this review is to provide a more effective local election service for our voters and to help improve local democracy. These reviews are often needed because of growth in an area, changes to boundaries, a change in facilities available and a lack of accessibility. This whole process is all about improving democracy at a really local level and that is why it is important we hear from our constituents and can take their views into account.”

Following a preliminary review by the Acting Returning Officer at Mid Devon to accommodate new parliamentary constituencies, the Council has already identified potential changes, with the most notable outlined in the table below.

Full details can also be read online on the dedicated webpage.

The Council is keen to hear from individuals and organisations about the proposed changes and welcome further suggestions and comments regarding polling districts and places in the Mid Devon area.

At the end of the review period the Council will make a number of recommendations which will be made available in a public document, including the reasoning behind each recommendation.

Any changes as a result of the review would come into effect for elections which take place in 2024.

Please contact us on our new engagement platform to share your views.

Or you can call 01884 255255, email pollingdistricts@middevon.gov.uk or write to Electoral Services, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton EX16 6PP.

Area	Proposed Change
Blackborough	To vote with the rest of Kentisbeare at Kentisbeare Village Hall.
Crediton Hamlets	Yeoford East voters to vote at Yeoford Village Hall instead of the Boniface Centre.
Cullompton Padbrook	Vote at John Tallack Centre (Leisure Centre) instead of Community Centre, as this is in Padbrook Ward.
Sandford	Voters at New Buildings would vote at Sandford Village Hall instead of Beacon Church. The Village Hall is more accessible.
Tiverton Castle	All of Castle Ward to vote at the Signpost Club (Tiverton Market). Some voters would change from Moorhayes and St George’s Church. This is as a result of recent district boundary changes.
Clare and Shuttern	Bolham electors to vote at Cove. Bolham does not have a suitable polling station without disrupting the school.
Tiverton Lowman	A few voters to change from Moorhayes to Indoor Bowls. Voters who used to vote at William Authers (Adventure Playground) to vote at Moorhayes. The Adventure Playground is not very accessible and has no parking. This also accommodates recent boundary changes.
Uffculme	Move from Village Hall to Magelake Hall, following a few complaints about lack of parking at the Village Hall and damage to a residential property.