Ryedale | Archive | 2003 | August | 06
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Wednesday 6th Aug 2003.
A PROBE into ways of improving polling stations and voting across Ryedale is to be carried out by the district council.
The move, approved by the overview and scrutiny committee, follows complaints after the May 1 council elections of problems at some stations.
Phil Hancock, the performance manager, said it would be the first survey for several years and the electoral services unit was aware of a number of difficulties.
At Barton-le-Willows, an investigation is to be made into the possibility of the village having its own station rather than people having to cross the busy A64 road to go to Flaxton, while at Sherburn, a request has been made to use the village hall rather than the Methodist Church hall.
Pickering voters have problems using the school on Ruffa Lane because it is uphill for pensioners and the disabled, and other venues are being investigated.
Facilities at Thixendale village hall for polling station staff have been described as poor and a question mark hangs over the future availability of the village hall at Wharram-le-Street.
There are also concerns over access to the polling station at Kirkbymoorside, said Mr Hancock.
He added that the Church Hall in Commercial Street, Norton, was expected to be back in use for the next election.
He added that there were limitations on alternative venues for polling stations where there have been complaints.
There has also been a reluctance from some voters to use polling stations in private houses at Bransdale, Hartoft, North Grimston, Howsham and Marishes.
But they could use postal votes, said Mr Hancock.
He added that there was a possibility that the European parliament elections next year may be run entirely as a postal ballot in Yorkshire and Humberside and the proposed regional government ballot may also be run the same way.
While electronic voting has been considered, it would be too expensive for Ryedale council at present because of security.
Members of the district council, parish and town councils and other organisations are to be consulted by the scrutiny committee on the present situation of polling stations.
Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, August 06, 2003
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