The Council has begun a formal consultation review of polling districts and polling places and are accepting representations until Sunday 16th February.
There are a number of changes to Purley & Woodcote’s polling provision, in part due to the expected increase in residents locally as well as the pending sale of St Barnabas Church.
I have made suggestions to Seth Alker, Head of Democratic Services, which have been incorporated into the proposal and I hope they will be acceptable to residents.
Here are the key changes for Purley & Woodcote
- There are currently six polling districts (PWC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) in Purley & Woodcote ward. It is proposed that a seventh is created. However, two polling districts (PWC 1 & 7) will vote at the same polling station – St Mark’s Church, Woodcote.
- It is proposed that Church Hill, Church Road, Deacon Close 21a-95 and 34a-122 Foxley Lane, Peaks Hill, Peaks Hill Rise, Plough Lane, The Bridle Road and Woodcote Drive are moved from PWC1 to PWC7. This will make no change to the current arrangements for residents, other than the number of their polling district. If you are registered to vote here, you will still vote at the same polling station.
- It is proposed that Atalanta Close, Ensign Close, High Tree Close, Highbarrow Close, Highfield Road, Hillthorpe Close, Holmoak Close, Oscar Close, Pringle Gardens and Russell Hill are moved from PCW2 to PWC7. If you live here, this means you would now vote at St Mark’s Church, Woodcote rather than the Purley United Reform Church.
- With St Barnabas Church being sold, this will unlikely be available beyond 2026. It is proposed that the new polling station is Beaumont Primary School (PWC5).
- Electors of Hartley Down, Hartley Farm, Hartley Hill, Hartley Old Road, Hartley Way and Stoats Nest Road will be moved from PWC6 to PWC5. If you live here, you would vote at Beaumont Primary School rather than the Dorothy Mortby Centre.
No other changes are proposed and I attach a copy of the consultation document in full.
The Council encourages respondents to submit alternative proposals, where they feel improvements could be made. But it is also important that they also receive representations where proposals are supported. After the close of the public consultation, they will take into consideration all responses receive and draft final proposals, so it is important that representations reflect all views.
Please note that all representations received have to be published to ensure that the process is transparent.
If an elector wishes to make a representation, this should be in writing to Electoral Services, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk Croydon, CR0 1EA or via email to Seth Alker at [email protected].
Cllr Samir Dwesar
