Just a few weeks ago the government assured the whole country that local elections could proceed safely and without disruption on Thursday 6 May, so imagine my dismay when I received notification that there would not be a polling station this year at Blackhall Rocks.
Residents will recall that Kasko House in Marine Crescent, the home of the former Blackhall Rocks Residents’ Association, had been used in the past as a polling station. Unfortunately Kasko House, which is owned and maintained by believe housing, has been empty for some time and is no longer available for use, so along with the council I’d expected alternative arrangements to be put in place in the form of a Portakabin, just as they had been for previous elections.
However I received correspondence from the council recently informing me that their order of Portakabins couldn’t now be delivered because supply across the country had been disrupted - reportedly as a result of a steel shortage and because existing facilities were being deployed as testing and vaccination centres. I was assured that the national shortage of Portakabins had disrupted polling arrangements in many communities across County Durham and the rest of the country.
My primary concern was for the residents of Blackhall Rocks who are now expected to make their way to the nearest polling station at St Joseph’s RC church at Blackhall Colliery - over half a mile away. To make matters worse access to public transport during the current pandemic lockdown will be restricted, with residents understandably reluctant to take the risk of using public transport to get to the polling station. In addition, local volunteers like myself who traditionally offer transport on demand for those who need it will no longer be allowed to step in to help because of social distancing requirements.
Earlier this week I wrote to the chief executive at county hall to express my concerns and to seek an assurance that all options had been exhausted in pursuing alternative polling arrangements. I have reproduced the response below in full:
Good morning Cllr Crute
Thank you for your email regarding the polling station at Blackhall Rocks. I do understand your concerns about moving the polling station and the impact that it may have on electors. If we could have avoided moving the station we would have done. In recent times, the polling station for Blackhall Rocks has been a Portakabin and it was intended that this would be the case this year. There is a national shortage of Portakabins currently because many are deployed for use at Covid-19 testing/vaccination centres. Our supplier initially informed us that our usual supply would be available but on 22 February 2021 informed us that this was no longer the case. We understand that in order to meet our requirements, the supplier had ordered new Portakabins to be built but due to a steel shortage, these will not be completed in time for polling day.
We needed to confirm polling station arrangements for the whole county by 12 March 2021 so that details could be sent to the printers to ensure that poll cards are prepared and sent out on time. This left us very limited time to explore alternative options, particularly as we had to find alternative polling stations in 37 electoral areas as well, as well as undertaking additional covid assessments across all 400 polling stations. All of this work has been conducted during the usual election preparations, which are required in advance of polling day.
I understand Believe Housing have advised that Kasko House has been mothballed and no longer suitable/available for use, which is why we have opted to use St Joseph’s RC Church Hall. It was not feasible given the time constraints and scale of the task across the county to source alternatives such as reconditioned vehicles (others have suggested marquees and other forms of provision), assess their suitability for use as a polling station, health and safety and covid security arrangements and then put the required contractual arrangements in place. I do understand that it is not ideal, however the approach that we have taken is consistent across the 38 areas where we have had to make changes.
We are in the process of writing to all electors affected to advise them of the changes. We have enclosed a postal vote application with each letter as well as details of how people can apply for a proxy vote as alternatives to voting in person.
I hope the above reassures you that we have done what we can within the timescales that we are working to and that this is an exceptional year in which to plan and deliver an election across county Durham.
Because alternative voting arrangements cannot now be put in place I would urge everyone to apply for a postal vote when they receive the application form from the council as advised in the chief executive’s response. Under the circumstances I think this is the safest and most convenient way to cast your vote.
If you experience any difficulty with any aspect of the elections in May please get in touch with me at: rob.crute@gmail.com and I’ll do everything I can to help.
The local elections are scheduled for Thursday 6 May 2021.