On 12 September we published our draft proposals report.
Notice of Review
Notice of Polling Districts and Polling Places Review 2023
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 18C of the Representation of the People Act 1983 Wealden District Council (the Council) is to carry out a review of its polling districts and polling places.
Relevant information and location maps regarding the current arrangements and proposals for changes can be found below or can be inspected at these locations:
The Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX
Review information can also be inspected at the following Town/Parish Council Offices:
- Crowborough – Pine Grove, Crowborough, TN6 1DH
- Uckfield – Uckfield Civic Centre, Uckfield, TN22 1AE
- Polegate – Council Offices, 49 High Street, Polegate, BN26 6AL
- Heathfield and Waldron – 73 High Street, Heathfield, TN21 8HU
- Forest Row – The Community Centre, Hartfield Road, Forest Row, RH18 5DZ
- Willingdon & Jevington – Council Office, The Triangle, Willingdon, BN20 9PJ
Also, The Library, Wadhurst High Street, TN5 6AP
The (Acting) Returning Officer (ARO) for the current Parliamentary constituencies of Bexhill and Battle, Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden will be invited to comment on the proposals. Once received, their comments will be published on the Council’s website and will also be available for inspection at the above locations in accordance with the timetable set out below.
Electors within the Council area or within a UK Parliamentary constituency which has any part in the authority may make a representation. We invite comments from all electors regarding the convenience of voting at polling stations currently used for elections and would welcome suggestions for alternative sites.
The Council would also welcome the views of all residents, particularly disabled residents, or any person or body with expertise in access for persons with any type of disability, on the proposals, ARO’s representations or any other related matters.
Anybody making representations should, if possible, give alternative places that may be used as polling places.
Comments and representations may be submitted as follows:
By email: PDR@wealden.gov.uk
By post: Electoral Services PDR, The Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX
By completing an online feedback form.
All representations must be made by no later than 30 November 2023.
Timetable for the Review
2 October 2023 – Formal notice of review published and public consultation period starts
30 October 2023 – Deadline for receipt of (Acting) Returning Officers’ comments which will be published within 30 days
30 November 2023 – End of public consultation period
24 January 2024 – Final proposals considered by Audit, Finance and Governance Committee
1 February 2024 – Revised Register of Electors published
The outcome of the review will be published by the Council in February 2024 and will be available for inspection on the Council’s website and the locations listed above.
Anybody making representations should be aware that, upon completion of the review, all correspondence and representations received must, by law, also be published.
Dated: 2 October 2023
Trevor Scott
Chief Executive
Wealden District Council
Aim of Review
The aim of the review is to ensure that;
- electors have reasonable facilities for voting (as are practicable)
- as far as is reasonable and practicable, polling places are accessible to all electors
- the accessibility needs of disabled people are properly considered when designating polling places and polling stations.
The timetable for the review is set out in the notice above.
What is a polling district?
A polling district is a geographical sub-division of an electoral area. An electoral area may be a UK Parliamentary constituency (eg Wealden), a District ward (eg Uckfield Central), a County electoral division (eg Uckfield) or a parish or parish ward (eg Buxted Parish, Buxted Ward).
To find existing polling areas and polling stations visit our online mapping tool
- To view the current polling district boundaries, click on ‘Map Features’ (top left).
- Click on ‘Elections’ and then tick the box relating to polling districts and/or polling stations.
- Click on the map and a box will display giving details of the polling districts and polling stations in that area.
- Polling District boundaries will then be visible.
- Zoom in and hover over an area to view the Polling District and Polling Station.
What is a polling place?
A polling place is a designated location (building or area) in which a polling station is located. These should be small enough to be within easy reach of all electors from across the polling district.
What is a polling station?
A polling station is the room or area within the polling place where voting takes place. Unlike polling districts and polling places which are fixed by the Local Authority, polling stations are chosen by the relevant Returning Officer for the election.
Having Your Say
Any elector within the current Wealden, Bexhill and Battle, Eastbourne and Lewes Parliamentary Constituencies may make representations on existing and proposed polling districts and places.
Representations are welcomed from individuals or groups with interest or expertise in the access to premises or facilities for people with disabilities.
Any individual or organisation making a representation should, if possible, give alternative places that may be used as polling places.
You can view the current polling districts and polling stations on our online mapping tool. Some guidance on using these pages is set out above.
How to make a representation
Representations must be received by 5pm on Thursday 30 November 2023
The quickest and easiest way to submit your representation is using our online consultation tool, Let’s Talk.
You can also submit your representation by email to PDR@wealden.gov.uk
Or in writing to:
Electoral Services PDR, Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AX
Acting Returning Officer (ARO) responses
The responses received from relevant (Acting) Returning Officers is set out below. If you have any comments on these please contact us via any of the above channels:
Lewes District – Ian Fitzpatrick, Acting Returning Officer, Lewes Constituency
“I am writing to you on behalf of the Returning Officer for Lewes in response to Wealden’s Polling District and Polling Place Review 2023.
We acknowledge your proposals within your Polling District and Polling Place Review in terms of the areas that fall within the Lewes County Constituency and that we have no comments to make in terms of your proposals.”
Mid Sussex District – Katherine Hall, Acting Returning Officer – East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency
“I am content with all the proposals made by Wealden District Council in regards to the East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency.”
Rother District – Lorna Ford, Acting Returning Officer – Bexhill and Battle Constituency
“I have reviewed the consultation document and have no comments to make about the arrangements for polling stations used for the Bexhill and Battle Parliamentary Constituency that fall within the boundaries of Wealden District Council, other than to say that I regard them to be satisfactory. I appreciate the difficulty in finding suitable venues for polling and have no suggestions at this time for alternative venues that I think would be preferable to those currently in use.”
Wealden District – Trevor Scott, Acting Returning Officer – Wealden Constituency
“I support the outline proposals at this stage of the process.
Rationalising and re-designating the polling districts in the Wealden area will deal with several anomalies which have arisen over the years from former boundary reviews and will also sensibly reflect the anticipated Parliamentary Boundary Review changes. I support the objective of simplifying polling arrangements for electors and electoral administration and look forward to receiving the final Polling District Review recommendations in due course.”
List of useful links and background documents