New Forest District Council approves review of polling stations as Waterside Primary School in Hythe and Bashley Village Hall kept on

NO changes will be made to two New Forest polling station locations despite concerns over their use.

As reported in the A&T, the district council launched a review of its polling sites in September, with its general purposes and licensing committee discussing the possible outcomes the following month.

The review was signed off by the full council on Monday, with officers recommending to retain the use of Waterside Primary School in Hythe and Bashley Village Hall, which drew five and eight complaints.

Concerns raised by an unnamed member of staff at the school said using the site as a venue greatly impacted staff and pupils and urged the council to reconsider its use.

The staff member added access to the site by the public was a safeguarding issue and noted there had been incidents of voters driving onto the playground, as well as impacting attendance rates.

Meanwhile those objecting to the use of Bashley Village Hall said access is difficult due to a lack of pavements, and driving and parking is very restricted at busy times.

Many said the previous venue for the area, New Milton cricket ground, was preferable.

A report to the council states: “In the cases where issues have been raised, the general purposes and licensing committee considered the representations and and decided to accept the proposals of the returning officer and to recommend these for adoption by full council.”

The council is also being asked to approve changes to two other locations; Fritham Free Church in Fritham, near Lyndhurst, which is no longer used as it has already been replaced by Bramshaw Village Hall, and St Francis Church Hall in Blackfield, which has also not been used in recent elections.

It will instead be replaced by the QE2 Recreation Centre in Blackfield.

Members voted in favour of the proposals, with 41 votes to one.