Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
District Ward and
Polling District
Consultees'
Consultees Comments
Returning Officers Comments
UL1 Fulmodeston
Chaucer
KL4 East Beckham
and KL5 West
Beckham
Fulmodeston Parish Council
We are generally content with the current arrangements.
No change to existing arrangements.
Beckham Parish Council
After an emergency meeting we can only offer West
Beckham church as an alternative venue. The Parish
Council does not want electors to vote in Gresham.
LZ4 Matlaske
Matlaske Parish Council
No responses were received regarding an alternative
venue.
The polling place for East and West Beckham
is redesignated from the Wheatsheaf to West
Beckham church, Church Road, West
Beckham, NR25 6NX.
The Returning Officer made a proposal to look
for an alternative polling station for Matlaske.
As no alternative venues were forthcoming
there will be no change to existing
arrangements.
Corpusty
LH4 Hempstead
District Cllr Perry-Warnes
KH5 Plumstead
Plumstead Parish Council
The only alternative at Hempstead would be the Parish
Church. There is a car park opposite but there is a step
down into the church, but I think they have a ramp to
cater for this.
Plumstead Parish Council voted in favour of
Baconsthorpe being the polling station for Plumstead,
rather than Barningham Village Hall where parking is
difficult.
The Returning Officer did not see this venue
any more suitable than the current
arrangements and therefore no change will be
made to existing arrangements.
The Returning Officer is happy to support the
request of the Parish Council and has
transferred KH5 Plumstead electors from Little
Barningham Village Hall and designated them
to vote at KF4 Baconsthorpe Village Hall,
School Lane, Baconsthorpe, NR25 6LJ
The Members request that either the High School or
Benjamin Court be used for the Suffield Park Ward and
the Community Centre or Marrams Bowls Club be used
for the Town Ward instead of Merchants Place in the
future.
The Returning Officer considered the
locations suggested by the Town Council for
Cromer Town Ward, and in order to re-site the
polling place within the polling district
recommended the relocation of the polling
station from Merchants Place to the
Community Centre, Garden Street, Cromer
NR27 9HN.
The Marrams Bowls Club was deemed not to
be a suitable venue.
Astley
Cromer Town
KV2 Cromer Town
(West)
KV1 Cromer Town
(East)
Cromer Town Council
Cromer Town Council
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
Erpingham
KA4 Alby
Alby Parish Council
LS4 Ingworth
MP Norman Lamb
District Cllr Richard Smith
NN4 Wickmere
Wickmere Parish Council
Further to our recent telephone conversation the
members and residents wish to continue to cast their
votes at the Community centre in Aldborough.
The Returning Officer received a representation from
the North Norfolk Member of Parliament who visited
Ingworth while on his village tour. He discussed the
Returning Officers proposal with a Parish Councillor who
told him that other Parish Councillors and residents in
the village were outraged at the potential loss of their
polling station and objected to the closure on the
grounds of disability access, as currently there are not
any disabled people in the village who would find a
difficulty with access to the polling station. Mr Lamb
asked if we are faced with an absolute requirement for
all polling stations to be disabled friendly, what steps
had been taken to investigate other options in Ingworth.
When helping Norman Lamb MP on his village tour I
spoke to some constituents who were concerned that
the proposal to close the current Ingworth polling station
on the grounds of accessibility was short sighted.
Although Ingworth has a relatively small population that
uses the polling station it is something that local people
want to use rather than driving to a polling station in
Erpingham. It was strongly expressed to me that if the
polling station was relocated then there would be less
likelihood of members of the Ingworth community voting.
I understand that Mr Lamb has written to Philip Burton
expressing his concerns at the plans and whether an
alternative venue in Ingworth can be found.
We at Wickmere have voted in the only existing public
space in the village for years. The village hall has
recently been re-roofed and had new windows put in.
We have an appointment with the planning officer next
Tuesday, at the hall, to discuss the possibility of getting
planning permission for a lavatory and a kitchen
extension to the original building in this conservation
area. If we can find a compromise with the planning
No change to existing arrangements.
The Returning Officers proposal for electors
to vote at a neighbouring polling station was
not solely because of lack of disabled
access, it was because of the very small
number of electors (96) in Ingworth as well
as some access difficulties. The Returning
Officer made the same proposal for all polling
stations with fewer than 100 electors and is
satisfied that he has taken account of all the
relevant legislative criteria, which can be
found in the full consultation document, and
the changes will not compromise electors’
ability to vote and will continue to offer
personal choice of voting method. The
Returning Officer has offered two alternative
methods of voting and designated the
electors of Ingworth to vote in the
neighbouring polling district of KZ4
Erpingham at Erpingham with Calthorpe
Village Hall, The Street, Erpingham, NR11
7QD whilst the elector numbers in Ingworth
are less than 100.
No change to existing arrangements.
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
officer between cost and acceptability we hope to have
these facilities by the next election, saving the council
tax payer the expense of providing a Portaloo.
We hope our democratic rights will outweigh excessive
aesthetic concerns.
Glaven Valley
UD1 Blakeney
Blakeney Parish Council
UF4 Brinton
Brinton Parish Council
UX1 Morston
Morston Parish Council
District Cllr Lindsay Brettle
County Cllr Marie Strong
The Parish Council does not meet in August, and hence
does not meet until Tuesday 6th September next, a day
after your period for receiving comments closes.
However, having read the papers I do not feel that for
Blakeney, there is any better location as a polling station
than the village hall; large hall, large free car park etc.
Also I see that you are looking for a neighbouring parish
to allow the 73 parishioners of Morston to vote to save
on costs. Again, may I suggest that Blakeney may be
suitable for the above reasons, and the fact that Morston
to Blakeney is served very well and frequently by the
Coasthopper Bus should an alternative venue prove to
be necessary.
Please accept this message as from Brinton Parish
Council, which has not had a meeting since you wrote.
No change is desired as far as the Sharrington Village
Hall voting place is concerned.
After much discussion, Morston Parish Council wishes
to retain elections in Morston Village Hall. In summary
members thought that even fewer parishioners would
“turnout” to vote if having to travel to another parish and
this would also mean extra costs to the voter. The
Parish Council is prepared to discuss subsidising the
cost of elections in the hope that the village hall venue
may be retained and I await your comments in respect
of this. Please supply a complete breakdown of costs.
As District Councillor for the Glaven Valley Ward which
includes Morston, I can confirm that the nearest polling
station in the ward is Blakeney. This would certainly
cause travel problems for some Morston voters.
I concur with the Parish Council that the station should
No change to existing arrangements.
No change to existing arrangements.
The Returning Officers proposal for electors to
vote at a neighbouring polling station was
because of the very small number of electors
(73) in Morston. The Returning Officer made
the same proposal for all polling stations with
fewer than 100 electors and is satisfied that
he has taken account of all the relevant
legislative criteria, which can be found in the
full consultation document, and the changes
will not compromise electors’ ability to vote
and will continue to offer personal choice of
voting method. The Returning Officer has
offered two alternative methods of voting and
designated the electors of Morston to vote in
the neighbouring polling district of UD1
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
Blakeney Parish Council
not be closed. Reasons for not closing include the
following: low turnout would be lower, the parish has
people who work late, early and varied shift times –
such as boat, restaurant and pub workers, the parish
has families with young children who can be taken to the
village hall or parents can attend in turn but travelling to
the next village is an added complication, hiring a bus
has been suggested but to cover the latter point this
would need to run a number of times, the Coast Hopper
has been suggested but that does not run 7am to 10pm
and some people with disabilities find any public
transport difficult to access. I refer to one of the rules;
relevant authorities must “seek to ensure that all the
electors in the constituency have such reasonable
facilities for voting as are practicable in the
circumstances. I strongly urge that Morston polling
station be kept open.
I see that you are looking for a neighbouring parish to
allow the 73 parishioners of Morston to vote to save on
costs. Again, may I suggest that Blakeney may be
suitable for the above reasons, and the fact that Morston
to Blakeney is served very well and frequently by the
Coasthopper Bus should an alternative venue prove to
be necessary. The car park is free and also many
residents of Morston come into Blakeney daily to use
the village shop.
Blakeney at Blakeney Village Hall, Langham
Road, Blakeney, NR25 7PG whilst the elector
numbers in Morston are less than 100.
VM4 Wiveton
Wiveton Parish Council
We are generally content with the current arrangements.
No change to existing arrangements.
Holt
LK1 Holt
District Cllr Michael Baker
I do not think that we have any issues with our polling
facilities at Holt.
No change to existing arrangements.
District Cllr Philip High
I am very happy with the polling at Holt, the venue and
the accessibility are fine, and we do have excellent
disabled access.
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
Hoveton
LQ1 Hoveton
Hoveton Parish Council
Hoveton Parish Council confirmed they had no response
to make regarding their polling arrangements.
No change to existing arrangements.
Lancaster North
UJ1 Fakenham North
Fakenham Town Council
Although a central voting station in Fakenham at the
heart of the community would be the ideal, parking and
traffic congestion problems experienced around the
Community Centre site on regular Thursday Market
days are further exacerbated on polling days. The
consensus of opinion from Fakenham Town Council
therefore is to maintain the status quo with the north
ward polling station remaining separate and sited at
either Trap Lane Pavilion or Fakenham College
Conference Hall, particularly in the light of future
building plans on the northern boundary.
No change to existing arrangements.
Lancaster South
UJ2 Fakenham South
Fakenham Town Council
Councillors were happy for Fakenham South to remain
at the Community Centre now that it has re-opened in
full.
No change to existing arrangements.
Mundesley
MF1 Paston
Paston Parish Council
Bacton is the nearest alternative location, so Paston
Parish Council prefers that as a polling station. We think
that some free transport should be provided or a budget
that the Clerk offers to use for that purpose. The Council
wants the restitution of a polling place in Paston as a
longer term objective. Comments supported by District
Councillor Wyndham Northam.
I was rather hoping to be able to make use of Paston
Church as a polling station because it is not right that
people living in Paton should have to go outside of their
village to vote. I have had a look at Paston Church and
there are two things that need to be addressed 1) there
is no water supply and 2) no toilets. The latter issue
could be resolved by supplying a portaloo and perhaps
the invigilating officers could supply their own water etc
The Returning Officer is keen to have a
polling station in Paston as and when a
suitable venue is built in the future.
District Cllr Barry Smith
No change to existing arrangements.
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
MA1 Mundesley
North Walsham
North
MC2 North Walsham
North
Mundesley Parish Council
North Walsham Town Council
District Cllrs Eric Seward and
Nigel Lloyd
County Cllr Paul Morse
North Walsham West
MD2 North Walsham
Town
North Walsham Town Council
for making drinks. A ramp would also be required for
wheelchair access.
Mundesley Parish Council are happy with the present
arrangements.
No change to existing arrangements.
MC2 North Walsham North – The only room I can think
of is the St Johns Ambulance hall. Another suggestion
would be the Sadlers Rooms in Vicarage Street which is
in the East Ward but very close to the North Ward
(currently used by MD2)
As a North Walsham North ward Cllr I fully support the
proposal (proposed change 10) to look for a suitable
building for a polling station within the ward. I cannot
think of a suitable building at the moment. There are
however, pub/shop/caravan parks etc where a mobile
station could be installed. Also suggest look at buildings
that front the Vicarage Street car park. On the edge of
the ward but there is car parking. I have spoken to my
colleague Nigel Lloyd who also supports the proposed
change.
The only comment I have on my Division relates to the
lack of a polling station in North Walsham North. I have
had a look round and cannot think of anywhere suitable.
Whilst the current arrangements are not ideal I do
wonder how much it matters really.
In order to re-site the polling place within the
polling district the Returning Officer
redesignated the polling station for North
Walsham North Ward from the Community
Centre to St Johns Ambulance Hall,
Preference Place, Bacton Road, North
Walsham, NR28 9DR.
MD2 North Walsham Town – Within the ward the
following buildings could be investigated for availability.
The Old Court House, Yarmouth Road; The Methodist
Church Hall, Grammar School Road; Paston College
(Griffon site), Grammar School Road; The Catholic
Church Rooms, King’s Arms Street.
In order to re-site the polling place within the
polling district the Returning Officer
redesignated the polling station for North
Walsham Town Ward from the Sadlers Shop
to Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Kings Arms
Street, North Walsham, NR28 9JP
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
Although understanding the economic and efficiency
reasons for the proposal for electors of Sidestrand to
vote in a neighbouring polling station, Sidestrand Parish
Council wish to make it known that they oppose the
proposal to close the polling station in their parish and
for the electors to use a neighbouring polling station.
Currently, the majority of voters in the village, who are
elderly, are able to walk to the polling station which
would not be the case if the merger happened. Parking
for the polling station in Overstrand in non-existent,
especially in the summer, whereas the Reading Room
at Sidestrand has its own car park. We feel strongly that
the residents of Sidestrand should be able to exercise
their historic right to vote in their parish. There are not
many facilities in the village and we wish to fight to
retain the ones we have. The loss of income to the
Reading Room would also be significant.
The Returning Officers proposal for electors to
vote at a neighbouring polling station was
because of the very small number of electors
(78) in Sidestrand. The Returning Officer
made the same proposal for all polling
stations with fewer than 100 electors and is
satisfied that he has taken account of all the
relevant legislative criteria, which can be
found in the full consultation document, and
the changes will not compromise electors’
ability to vote and will continue to offer
personal choice of voting method. The
Returning Officer has offered two alternative
methods of voting and designated the electors
of Sidestrand to vote in the neighbouring
polling district of NH1 Trimingham at the
Pilgrim Shelter, Loop Road, Trimingham,
NR11 8EQ whilst the elector numbers in
Sidestrand are less than 100.
You are recommending that the existing arrangements
continue, and we are happy with that.
You are recommending that the existing arrangements
continue, and we are happy with that.
We are generally content with the current arrangements.
You are recommending that the existing arrangements
continue, and we are happy with that.
You are recommending that the existing arrangements
continue, and we are happy with that.
No change to existing arrangements.
Poppyland
MU4 Sidestrand
Sidestrand Parish Council
Priory
UB4 Binham
Binham Parish Council
UT4 Holkham
Holkham Parish Council
UV1 Langham
VJ1 Warham
Langham Parish Council
Warham Parish Council
VK1 Wells
Wells Town Council
Roughton
LA4 Felbrigg
Felbrigg Parish Council
The Parish Council have no comments to make on the
proposals in the review document but would like to point
out that the comment about disabled access to polling
station in Felbrigg village hall is not correct as the hall is
now accessible by those reliant on wheelchairs.
The Returning Officer notes the information
from the Parish Council and will confirm with
the NNDC Access Officer.
MH4 Roughton
Roughton Parish Council
MH4 Roughton states “This accommodation is not
The Returning Officer notes the information
No change to existing arrangements.
No change to existing arrangements.
No change to existing arrangements.
No change to existing arrangements.
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
Scottow
MN1 Scottow
Sheringham North
MR1 Sheringham
North
currently accessible by those reliant upon wheelchairs
for mobility”. Please note that there is a ramp that is
placed down as and when necessary to accommodate
the elections and access.
from the Parish Council and will confirm with
the NNDC Access Officer.
Scottow Parish Council
A few suggestions regarding potential polling station
venues: North Walsham Rugby Club (on B1150),
Montessori School (on the Fairstead), Battle of Britain
Memorial Hall (Badersfield Scottow).
The Returning Officer redesignated the polling
station for Scottow Ward from The Three
Horseshoes, as this venue has closed down,
to The Battle of Britain Memorial Hall, Lamas
Road, Badersfield, Scottow, NR10 5JR.
District Cllr Richard Smith
I would like to comment on the future polling station
arrangements in Sheringham. I understand that for the
purposes of this review polling station choices need to
be tangible and therefore the proposal as to keep the
two polling stations the same. However, in the future
when Tesco supermarket is built changes to polling
stations would be needed. I would suggest that in the
future the Sheringham South polling station be situated
in the Community Centre on Holway Road. Likewise the
Sheringham North polling station could be relocated to
the soon to be built Baptist Church which has more
facilities than the Church Hall.
Due to demolition Sheringham North will be St Josephs
Church Hall on Cromer Road. Sheringham South will be
at the new Community Centre on Holway Road. If any
by election should occur before new Community Centre
is built, I would suggest using the High School on a non
school day. Cannot think of anywhere else.
No change to existing arrangements in
Sheringham North at present, however the
Returning Officer will keep under review and
will transfer voting for MR1 Sheringham North
electors to a suitable venue (possibly St.
Josephs Church) when the Community
Centre, Cromer Road closes.
District Cllr Richard Smith
See above comments
Sheringham Town Council
It was agreed that Sheringham Town Council would like
to see the current polling station for Sheringham South
Ward to continue at St. Josephs Church.
No change to existing arrangements in
Sheringham South at present, however the
Returning Officer will keep under review and
transfer MS1 Sheringham South electors from
St Josephs Church to the new Community
Centre, Holway Road once it is open.
District Cllr Richard Shepherd
Sheringham South
MS1 Sheringham
South
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
Suffield Park
KW1 Suffield Park
(South East)
KW2 Suffield Park
(North West)
Cromer Town Council
Cromer Town Council
The Members request that either the High School or
Benjamin Court be used for the Suffield Park Ward and
the Community Centre or Marrams Bowls Club be used
for the Town Ward instead of Merchants Place in the
future.
The Returning Officer considered the
locations suggested by the Town Council for
Suffield Park Ward, and would have been
pleased to be able to use Benjamin Court as a
polling station however this venue was not
available. The High School was deemed not
to be a suitable venue.
No change to existing arrangements.
The Raynhams
UH4 Dunton
Dunton Parish Council
Electors Chris & Lucinda
Tassell
Walsingham
UA4 Barsham
Barsham Parish Council
Dunton Chair stated: I have been trying to spread the
The Returning Officers proposal for electors to
word re changes which will affect Dunton Parish. All
vote at a neighbouring polling station was
those to whom I have spoken would much prefer to vote because of the very small number of electors
at Hempton polling station. I very much hope that
(93) in Dunton. The Returning Officer made
District Councillors will take on board this preference;
the same proposal for all polling stations with
after all in reality it is only likely to mean an additional
fewer than 100 electors and is satisfied that
50-60 extra voters. It would be the most conveniently
he has taken account of all the relevant
accessible place & I fear that several might not trouble
legislative criteria, which can be found in the
go to Helhoughton or Raynham, whereas Hempton is on full consultation document, and the changes
the way to Fakenham for local shoppers.
will not compromise electors’ ability to vote
and will continue to offer personal choice of
Our Parish Council Chairman has posted up details
voting method. The Returning Officer has
regarding finding an alternative polling station site for
offered two alternative methods of voting and
Dunton Activity centre. It has been suggested that
designated the electors of Dunton to vote in
interested parishioners should contact you direct to
the neighbouring polling district of UQ1
express our preference for the available alternatives.
Hempton at the Memorial Hall, The Green,
We both feel we would put Hempton as our first choice
and Helhoughton as our second. We hope this is helpful Hempton, NR21 7LG whilst the elector
numbers in Dunton are less than 100.
to you when you are making a decision.
I am writing to say that the current polling station at East
Barsham does indeed have disabled facilities and is
accessible for those reliant on wheelchairs. I hope you
will be able to amend your information.
The Returning Officer notes the information
from the Parish Council and will confirm with
the NNDC Access Officer.
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
VL1 Wighton
Wighton Parish Council
Regarding the comment "The physical conditions of the
current polling station do not meet our standards and
the proposal that a new polling place inside the polling
district of VL1 be found for Wighton" I detail below
improvements made to Wighton Village Hall over the
past 12 months together with the items already in place
for its use as a Polling Station etc. Although the hall is
rather large it is structurally sound and has been
completely repainted and new curtains fitted,
Due to frost damage early in the year, new toilet cisterns
and pipe work have been installed. The hall has electric
heating and a large functional fully fitted kitchen which is
used during our Scarecrow fortnight, Christmas
Pantomime and Quiz Nights and Village meetings. The
hall is also used regularly by the Carpet Bowls Club
and is available for hire There is a large Car Park and
there is a ramp up to the entrance door of the hall for
wheelchair users. The hall and its users are fully
covered by Zurich Insurance. Wighton Village Hall is in
the centre of the village and has, for many years been
used by its residents for County Council and General
Elections and is, we feel, the ideal place for this
purpose. Other buildings of any size in Wighton are the
Methodist Chapel and All Saints Church.
The venue was inspected and no change will
be made to existing arrangements.
Potter Heigham Parish
Council
Potter Heigham Parish Council has no comments to
make.
No change to existing arrangements.
Waxham
MP4 Sea Palling
Sea Palling Parish Council
Horsey
Horsey Parish Council
The Parish Council are happy with the current
No change to existing arrangements.
arrangements.
The Parish Council Chair said that although they did not The Returning Officers proposal for electors to
want to vote in a neighbouring polling station he
vote at a neighbouring polling station was
understood the reasons and therefore Sea Palling would because of the very small number of electors
be the closest polling district in the Ward.
(73) in Horsey. The Returning Officer made
the same proposal for all polling stations with
fewer than 100 electors and is satisfied that
he has taken account of all the relevant
legislative criteria, which can be found in the
Waterside
MG1 Potter Heigham
Comments from Stakeholders during Consultation period
consultation document, and the changes will
not compromise electors’ ability to vote and
will continue to offer personal choice of voting
method. The Returning Officer has offered
two alternative methods of voting and
designated the electors of Horsey to vote in
the neighbouring polling district of MP4 Sea
Palling at the Sea Palling & Waxham Village
Hall, Waxham Road, Sea Palling, NR12 0UX
whilst the elector numbers in Horsey are less
than 100.
Wensum
UM4 Gunthorpe
(South)
UN4 Gunthorpe
(North)
Gunthorpe Parish Council
Gunthorpe Parish Council
In response to your consultation about only having one
polling station we request that both Bale Village Hall and
Gunthorpe Village Institute are retained. They are well
apart in the parish and it is considered to be doubtful
whether many electors will travel from one village to the
other to vote. We are still very much physically divided
by the A148 and do not wish up to half the electorate to
be disenfranchised. However as, for example, the
separate villages of Brinton and Sharrington are merged
into one (Brinton) there seems to me to be no point in
having two named districts. I do not know why we have
been known as Gunthorpe North and South for at least
50 years but the very separate villages of Bale and
Gunthorpe still need both existing polling stations.
I emphasise that the Council has not had a meeting
since I received your letter but the Chairman reminded
me that we have previously made a decision to stay as
we are.
This is the only unwarded parish within North
Norfolk with two polling districts UM4
Gunthorpe South 105 electors & UN4
Gunthorpe North (Bale) 91 electors. In order
to adjust an historic anomaly the Returning
Officer recommended the Council approve
merging the two polling districts into one new
single polling district to be called UM4
Gunthorpe. The polling place for UM4
Gunthorpe is to be Gunthorpe Village Institute
(closing the polling station with less than 100
electors).
The Register of Electors will be combined to
reflect this change to take effect from 1st
December 2011.