Covid precautions planned for May elections in Harrogate
The elections are still expected to go ahead despite the coronavirus outbreak.
Changes to polling stations in Harrogate have been revealed for the upcoming May elections.
The elections are still expected to go ahead - despite the coronavirus outbreak.
Elections for North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner are scheduled to take place on 6 May, in what is likely to be one of the most complicated and challenging ballots ever held due to pandemic restrictions.
Votes for seats on North Yorkshire County Council have also been planned for the same date but it is highly unlikely these will go ahead as local government reorganisation plans progress.
The government is expected to announce elections for a new unitary council or councils, which will replace the current two-tier system in North Yorkshire, will instead happen in 2022.
Harrogate Borough Council is responsible for running elections locally and has revealed planned changes to 12 polling stations.
It follows a review which found some locations did not have warm running water for hand-washing, were too small to allow for social distancing or were unavailable to be booked this year.
The overall number of polling stations has also been reduced as organisers are expecting many experienced poll staff could be unwilling to work over virus fears if the nation remains on high alert in May.
The changes to local polling stations are as follows:
- All Saints Church School serving the ward of Spofforth and Lower Wharfedale to be moved to Sicklinghall Village Hall
- North Rigton Primary School serving the ward of Washburn to be moved to St John’s Church in North Rigton Village
- Baldersby Mission Room serving the ward of Wathvale to be moved to Rainton Village Hall
- Lofthouse Memorial Hall serving the ward of Pateley Bridge to be moved to Middlesmoor Village Hall
- St Mary’s Church at Dunsforth, serving the ward of Ouseburn to be moved to Boroughbridge Methodist Church
- St Michael’s all Angels Church at Wilsill serving the ward of Pateley Bridge to be moved to Broadbelt Hall at Glasshouses
- The Inn at South Stainley serving the ward of Fountains and Ripley to be moved to Markington Village Hall
- The Kitchen, Asenby Hall serving the ward of Wathvale to be moved to Rainton Village Hall
- Woodside at Carters Lane serving the ward of Washburn to be moved to Askwith Village Hall
- The Hydro serving the ward of Harrogate New Park to be moved to Jennyfield Evangelical Church on Grantley Drive
- Nun Monkton Primary School serving the ward of Ouseburn to be moved to Kirk Hammerton Village Hall
- St George’s Social Club serving the ward of Harrogate St George’s to be moved to St Marks Church Hall.
The council’s general purposes committee will meet next week to approve the changes.
A report to councillors said all polling stations will have hand-washing facilities, staff wearing PPE, one-way systems and more social distancing measures to keep voters apart.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs that while the plan was still for local elections to happen in May, this remained “under review”.