Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places

The Council carried out a review of polling districts and polling places in the borough.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council undertook a review of all polling districts and polling places in accordance with the Representation of the People Act 1983. 

The Council approved the recommendations contained within the report of Ka Ng, Chief Executive and Acting Returning Officer dated 26 January 2024 in respect of proposed changes to one of the polling stations, and to those polling districts set out below, at the full Council meeting held on 5 February 2024.  Those changes are contained in the Report to Full Council Meeting 5 February 2024 together with the comments raised as part of the consultation process.  These changes will be reflected in the poll cards with supporting maps.

There were only changes made to Hollybush and Peartree wards, which were approved.  No changes have been made to any other wards.

The following changes were approved:

Hollybush Ward:

There was an imbalance in the number of electors in each polling district within the Hollybush Ward with electors having to travel further to their polling station to vote than they needed to.  A number had to travel to King George V Community Pavilion polling station to vote when it would have been more appropriate to vote at a polling station nearer to them - either Creswick School in polling district BCC or Calvert House Community Centre in polling district BCA.  Consideration was given to ensure that there are, as far as possible, an equal number of voters going to each of the polling stations within Hollybush ward, and so far, as was reasonable and practicable, accessible to all electors including those who are disabled.  To redress this imbalance, electors will now vote at the polling stations shown in the approved lists and maps. 

Peartree Ward:

Given the increasing number of electors in the northern part of Peartree Ward and the likely planning of new residential builds in this area, a new polling district BBC was proposed.  All roads northeast of Broadwater Road were moved from polling district BBA to the new polling district BBC.  To equalise the electorate as far as possible, some streets from polling district BBA have been moved into polling district BBB, and some streets from polling district BBB have been moved into polling district BBA.  Electors will now vote at the polling stations shown in the approved lists and maps. 

Peartree School in now unavailable, and the new polling station is located at WGC & Hatfield Sea Cadets, 64-68 Bridge Road East, WGC AL7 1JU.  This will be a double polling station and electors from polling districts BBA and BBC will be voting at this new station.  Consideration was given to ensure that so far as is reasonable and practicable, the new polling station is accessible to all electors including those who are disabled.

Comments received on the proposals for Peartree Ward

• Peartree Ward response 1
• Peartree Ward response 2