Arun gets ready for elections

Those who live around the town centre will find themselves voting in three elections on polling day of May 5, 2011.

The usual district and town council elections – and those for any parishes which require elections – will be joined by the national referendum on bringing in the alternative voting system.

A review of polling stations is being carried out by Arun District Council ready for election day.

This is set to lead to electors casting their votes in premises as varied as churches, a Scout hall, a university and a racecourse weighing room.

The initial results of the review are being reported to the council’s governance committee tonight by the council’s chief executive and returning officer, Ian Sumnall.

He says in a report: “My team have worked hard to review existing premises within the district and investigate alternative locations where needed.

“We are finding it increasingly difficult to identify suitable premises which are fully accessible to all and situated within each of the polling districts.

“In some cases, we have had to take a pragmatic approach based on premises that are likely to be available on a permanent basis to minimise any disruption to electors.”

Those going to the polls will be asked to choose councillors to fill the 56 seats on Arun District Council. Its current political make-up is 41 Conservatives, nine Liberal Democrats, three Labour and two Independent. One seat is vacant.

Bognor Regis Town Council has 16 seats with a complexion of seven Conservatives, seven Liberal Democrats and two Independents.

The western half of the Arun district will have 41 polling stations in action on May 5. Some will be used for the first time.

They include the assembly hall at the University of Chichester’s campus. This is being brought back into use after a two-year trial of the Friary Arms pub on Shripney Road as a location.

Mr Sumnall’s report said the pub was convenient for some electors, but some people had been unhappy with using such premises for voting and the behaviour of some customers. The pub’s changing managers had also made it difficult to book the space.

Two new locations will be the Scout HQ at Shrubbs Field in Middleton to replace the nearby Jubilee Hall with its difficult disabled access. Bognor Regis Baptist Church, on Victoria Drive, will also be in use for the first time now the town’s United Reformed Church is empty.

Meanwhile, the weighing room at Fontwell Park is still seen by Mr Sumnall as the best option for Walberton’s Fontwell ward, provided a portable ramp is in place to enable disabled access.