Responses to the Full Review of Brighton & Hove Polling Districts and Places Consultation Paper and (Acting) Returning Officer Comment

The notice of a proposed polling place review was published on 23 August 2019. A consultation was opened and the council invited comments on the proposals. The consultation paper was published on the council’s website, and was also sent to councillors, Members of Parliament, local political parties, and any other interested groups or persons, including those who have particular expertise in relation to access to premises or facilities for persons who have different forms of disability.

Below are the responses received during the consultation and the replies by the (Acting) Returning Officer.

1. Do you agree that the polling districts AT and AU should be merged to form a new AU/KRCA district?

No responses

2. Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Rottingdean Coastal ward?

No responses

3. Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

No responses

4. Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Woodingdean ward?

No responses

5. Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

No responses

6. Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Moulsecoomb & Bevendean ward?

7. Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

- postal votes for everyone a collection service could be provided for older / disabled people who cant get out same as people who cant get to polling stations or ...... temp building erected in b and q car park, carpet right car park, corner of carpet right shop, all ward to vote in meadowview community centre

- Do not use schools, outrageous schools are shut for this. Rethink please. Use Community halls and car parks if necessary"

- Carpetrite/B&Q car parks, Meadowview Community Centre

- NOT a school or nursery.

- The car park at Carpet Right/B&Q could be used - and Meadowview Community Centre or Brighton University."

- Yes Meadowview community centre.

- Carpet Right/B&Q car parks/Meadowview Community Centre...

- Please use a community centre and not a nursery setting like New Horizons that has to be shut for the day, causing loss of earnings for parents who must take time off. Also it disrupts children's learning and impacts on their achievement.

The (Acting) Returning Officer has actively sort an alternative location but no suitable venue has been found. At polls during May 2019, a process was put in place that kept Coombe Road Primary School predominantly open when acting as a polling place. The other suggestions are not suitable due to their location at the top or bottom of Coombe Road or across the Lewes Road.

Postal votes cannot legally be imposed on electors. Electors have individual choice as to whether they wish to vote at the polling station, by post or by proxy.

8. Do you approve of the polling place scheme for East Brighton ward?

No responses

9. Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

No responses

10.Do you agree that the polling districts EU and EX should be merged to form a new EX/KQPD district?

11.Do you agree that the polling place for the new KQPD district should be Brighton Youth Centre?

12.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Queen’s Park ward?

13.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

- My concern is that there is lots of accommodation for older people around Queens Park School who may find it difficult to get to BYC.

The (Acting) Returning Officer has considered distances when make recommendations. Brighton Youth Centre is within 450m of Queen’s Park Primary School. Pilgrim Homes, Assisted Living Centre is within 240m of Brighton Youth Centre, this is 50m further than Queen’s Park Primary School. The (Acting) Returning Officer therefore deems that the polling place is within a suitable distance for electors

14.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Hanover & Elm Grove ward?

No responses

15.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

No responses

16.Do you approve of the redrawing of the polling district boundaries for GX/PHSE, GY/PHSF and GZ/PHSG?

17.Do you agree that the new polling place for GY/PHSF should be City Gate @ The Dip, 119d Hollingdean Terrace? - Q17

18.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Hollingdean & Stanmer ward? - Q18

19.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

- Please could One Church on Florence Road be considered rather than Downs Infants?

- Florence Road Church

- Not use Downs Infants School. One church Florence rd as an alternative.

- One church Florence rd

- Please stop using downs infants, suggest one church on Florence road instead

- Why remove the polling station from Hertford school but increase the number of voters at downs infants school? Surely shutting any school for a polling station has a negative impact on students - be that Hertford or downs? Please consider reviewing the polling station at downs infants within this consultation. These voters could potentially utilise one church as their polling station as there aren’t enormous numbers of them and this polling station is close in proximity to downs infants school. The church is already a polling station so has the amenities required.

- Using One Church hall on Florence road instead of Downs Infant School

As referenced in the Consultation Document, the (Acting) Returning Officer has actively worked with the headteacher and governors of Downs Infants to find a process to keep the school open when operating as a polling place.

Downs Infants operates two polling stations for two wards, moving the polling place to One Church Hall on Florence Hall would cause there to be three polling stations from three wards at one location. This would bring with it logistical issues which mean the site is not suitable.

20.Do you agree that the polling districts HZ should be split among the surrounding polling districts?

21.Do you agree that the polling place for HT/PPAA should be St Thomas More Church Hall? - Q21

22.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Patcham ward? - Q22

23.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

- Keep things as they are. Too large an electorate for Thomas Moore church on a busy road with a bus route will result in carnage with people coming to vote with no place to park. No no no !

While there is in increased electorate at St Thomas More Church Hall, it is located next to the previous polling place and the have been no known issues in terms of parking. In addition, the location on a bus route ensures good access for electors.

24.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Withdean ward? - Q24

25.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

- These venues seem OK and involve minimal disruption to schools

26.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Preston Park ward?

27.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

No responses

28.Do you agree that the polling districts KT and KZ should be merged to form a new PKT district? - Q28

29.Do you agree that the polling place for KT/KZ and PSPB should be the Brighthelm Church & Community Centre? - Q30

30.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for St Peter’s & North Laine ward? - Q30

31.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

- The use of Downs Infant School is highly disruptive to pupils and parents. Can I suggest the 'Connected Hub' next door would be far more suitable.

32.Do you approve of Brighton Town Hall being used as a polling station for LZ/PRED polling district - Q32

No responses

33.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Regency ward?

No responses

34.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider? - Q34

No responses

35.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Brunswick & Adelaide ward? - Q35

36.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider? - Q36

No responses

37.Do you agree with the new boundaries for NV/HGOA, NY/HGOD and NZ/HGOE polling districts - Q37

38.Do you approve of Ajex Hall being used as a polling station for the revised NV/HGOA polling district?

39.Do you approve of Hove Rugby Club Pavilion being used as a polling station for the revised NY/HGOD polling district? - Q39

40.Do you approve of Possibility Place being used as a polling station for the revised NZ/HGOE polling district? - Q40

41.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Goldsmid Ward? - Q41

42.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

No responses

43.Do you approve of the Hove Rugby Club Pavilion being used as a polling station for OZ/HHPD polling district?

44.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Hove Park ward? - Q44

45.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider? - Q45

No responses

46.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Hangleton & Knoll ward No responses

47.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider? - Q47

No responses

48.Do you approve of the Hill Park School (formerly Hillside) being used as a polling station for QZ/HNPE polling district? - Q48

49.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for North Portslade ward?

50.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

- library at mile oak ?

The (Acting) Returning Officer can confirm that the library at Mile Oak is a significant distance from QZ/HNPE polling district and therefore is not a suitable alternative to Hill Park School.

51.Do you approve of the St Nicholas Parish Centre being used as a polling station for RX/HSPD polling district?

No responses

52.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for South Portslade ward?

No responses

53.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider

No responses

54.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Wish Ward?

No responses

55.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider? - Q55

No responses

56.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Westbourne Ward? - Q5

No responses

57.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

No responses

58.Do you approve of the polling place scheme for Central Hove Ward? - Q

No responses

59.Are there any other alternatives venues for a polling station that the Council should consider?

No responses

60.Do you have any general comments about Brighton & Hove's Polling Districts and Polling Stations - comments

- Thank you for making the concerted effort during this review to take into consideration the views of schools and their stakeholders

- I strongly object to the use of religious building as polling stations. I do not vote because my polling station is a church and i will not enter.

- We shouldn't be taking away a day of school from children for voting when there are other suitable premises.

- Getting as many polling stations out of schools as possible, is essential

- Yes should limit disruption to schools and pre schools.

- It seems unnecessary to use schools when there are so many public building around

- It would be best to use a building that doesn't disrupt schools for polling.

- Schools and nurseries should NOT be used.

- Do not use Local school as this is very disruptive to the children and also to the parents that have to take days off work due to not having childcare or having to pay already expensive costs for an extra day. Do you not put the children through enough already what with taking funding etc? Also some of these children school is their safety net. There are other areas that could be used other than school sites use those.

The (Acting) Returning Officer can confirm in Brighton & Hove no Places of Worship are designated as polling places but adjoining halls are used.

The (Acting) Returning Officer can confirm that a number of schools have been removed the polling place scheme. All those that remain have or will in future remain predominantly open when operating as a polling place. The scheme is kept under review and if suitable locations become available then they will be considered.