Have your say on where to vote

Residents in three areas of Brighton & Hove are being asked for their views on proposed new polling stations.

The three areas being looked at by Brighton & Hove City Council are the Central Hove, Goldsmid and Wish electoral wards. The proposed changes are:

Central Hove ward

Hove Town Hall is not available as it will be undergoing refurbishment. The proposed alternative venue is the Parish Room at the Church of the Sacred Heart on Norton Road.

Goldsmid ward

The Avondale Centre on Montefiore Road is no longer available. No suitable alternative sites have been identified with Goldsmid ward itself, so the proposal is to use the Refectory Room at the nearby Brighton & Hove Sixth Form College (BHASVIC).

Wish Ward

The Saxon Road Pavilion at the Aldrington Recreation Ground (also known as Wish Park) is not available. No suitable alternative premises have been found so residents are being asked to consider two possible alternatives: a portacabin to be installed either in Saxon Road or at the Saxon Road end of the recreation ground, or a marquee to be installed at the Saxon Road end of the recreation ground.

The council’s returning officer is chief executive Penny Thompson. She said: “This is about making sure polling stations in the city are convenient and accessible.

“We’ve looked at a number of options for Wish and Goldsmid wards but unfortunately there are no easy answers. We have no powers to force the owners of buildings to let us use them as polling stations.

“If residents would like to propose possible alternative venues and can give reasons why these would improve access to voting in their area, we promise to take their suggestions very seriously.”

To give your views please visit our consultation website at http://consult.brighton-hove.gov.uk/portal

For further information please:

  • visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/pollingplacereview
  • email the Electoral Services team at electors@brighton-hove.gov.uk
  • phone them on 01273 291999 or
  • visit them at Brighton Town Hall.

The deadline for giving your views is Friday 19 December 2014. The council is expected to make a decision on the proposed changes in January.