Topic ID 4430
Following on from the previous thread, does anyone know why schools are used as Polling Stations? Seems a bit daft to close a school when, for example, in Millmead's case, there is a perfectly useable Scout Hut a few hundred yards down the road? I believe Bengeo School was shut too...
Reply ID 63748
because schools are owned by the council and therfore free for them to use? Scout huts are privately owned.. They also tend to be conveniently located! Dunno tho, just a guess!
Reply ID 63751
I also think most people know where their local school/s are and there;s some parking and plenty of room for all the visitors and clerks/returning officers and besides I like to go back to my local school and see the tiny chairs I used to sit on!!![:D]
Reply ID 63765
twas the village hall in hertford heath!! makes much more sence to me, dont the teachers get enough time off??
Reply ID 63768
Don't get me started Mick. My missus teaches in one of them there schools and she did a 9 hour day yesterday as usual. Might get a bit more free time this weekend though.
Reply ID 63769
I don't actually understand the gripe Arty. It's one day and the parents get to vote for the County Council's governing body which will represent their children in the future.
Reply ID 63771
quote:And those parents have to take a day off work or find childcare.
Originally posted by James007
I don't actually understand the gripe Arty. It's one day and the parents get to vote for the County Council's governing body which will represent their children in the future.
Reply ID 63772
Take a day off or half a day off, absolutely agree. The County Council represent your child whilst you are at work, so your vote and views should be a must for them. Pardon the pun Quatermass, but it is not rocket science. Most parents vote separately so no child care should really be required.
Reply ID 63778
quote:It is when the school is closed as it is the polling station and so the children need looking after!! Doh!!
Originally posted by James007 Pardon the pun Quatermass, but it is not rocket science. Most parents vote separately so no child care should really be required.
Reply ID 63779
It's easy. Mum votes when she picks up the kids, then Dad votes and looks after kids. Alternatively, if you are a single Mum with no partner, ask a friend to look after your kids. Failing that, take your kids with you to the polling station. Single Mums manage to take kids all over the place for a couple of hours and voting takes five minutes maximum and there are baby changing facilities and disability compliant areas and that is why schools are used. There are no excuses not to vote, unless you can't be bothered.
Reply ID 63780
quote:I think your missing the point James007, the school is closed for the day. Somebody has to look after the kids for the whole day not just the five minutes it takes to pop down to the polling station. I agree everybody should vote but I don't think that’s the issue. I'm sure there are good reasons that schools are used but it does make life difficult for parents.
Originally posted by James007
It's easy. Mum votes when she picks up the kids, then Dad votes and looks after kids. Alternatively, if you are a single Mum with no partner, ask a friend to look after your kids. Failing that, take your kids with you to the polling station. Single Mums manage to take kids all over the place for a couple of hours and voting takes five minutes maximum and there are baby changing facilities and disability compliant areas and that is why schools are used. There are no excuses not to vote, unless you can't be bothered.
Reply ID 63781
quote:You answered it. So what's the issue?
Originally posted by Quatermassquote:I think your missing the point James007, the school is closed for the day. Somebody has to look after the kids for the whole day not just the five minutes it takes to pop down to the polling station. I agree everybody should vote but I don't think that’s the issue. I'm sure there are good reasons that schools are used but it does make life difficult for parents.
Originally posted by James007
It's easy. Mum votes when she picks up the kids, then Dad votes and looks after kids. Alternatively, if you are a single Mum with no partner, ask a friend to look after your kids. Failing that, take your kids with you to the polling station. Single Mums manage to take kids all over the place for a couple of hours and voting takes five minutes maximum and there are baby changing facilities and disability compliant areas and that is why schools are used. There are no excuses not to vote, unless you can't be bothered.
Reply ID 63782
quote:Arty asked the question why do they close schools (thus creating problems for parents) to use them as polling stations when there are other venues available. Both Codex2 and Drama Queen gave reason why schools are chosen. You, James007, then asked what Artys gripe was, so Earthmother and I pointed out that closing schools can cause problems for working parents. That’s all. Nothing to do with making excuses for not voting or not being bothered to engage in local politics. That was the issue (without wanting to put words into the mouth of Arty).
So what's the issue?
Reply ID 63784
We used to vote in Bengeo Parish Hall, now have to go down to the Cricket Club, both privately owned so explain that one when Bengeo School is shut and used as a polling station for some roads why not all?
Reply ID 63785
See this for info: [url]http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/atoz/p/pollingstations/index.cfm?code=faqu[/url]
Reply ID 63788
Marilyn, reading all these comments, I was thinking the same as you....we voted in the Cricket Club, have done for years and the Football/Cricket club get paid for this.... so again why was the school shut????
Reply ID 63793
quote:I think the School Cover The Avenue/ Cowper Cres etc but I don't understand why it can't cover all of us................or everyone use the Cricket Club and Church Hall and leave the School open
Originally posted by furrybunny
Marilyn, reading all these comments, I was thinking the same as you....we voted in the Cricket Club, have done for years and the Football/Cricket club get paid for this.... so again why was the school shut????
Reply ID 63797
quote:Let me explain Marilyn. The Church Hall and the Cricket Club are not DDA compliant. Duncombe School has only just upgraded it's facilities to cater for the elderly and disabled. Bengeo JMI is DDA compliant via County Council and Government regulations. That's why most schools are used.
Originally posted by Marilynquote:I think the School Cover The Avenue/ Cowper Cres etc but I don't understand why it can't cover all of us................or everyone use the Cricket Club and Church Hall and leave the School open
Originally posted by furrybunny
Marilyn, reading all these comments, I was thinking the same as you....we voted in the Cricket Club, have done for years and the Football/Cricket club get paid for this.... so again why was the school shut????
Reply ID 63803
quote:If the Cricket Club is not DDA compliant, why was it being used as a Polling Station......and it is as I voted there.
Originally posted by James007quote:Let me explain Marilyn. The Church Hall and the Cricket Club are not DDA compliant. Duncombe School has only just upgraded it's facilities to cater for the elderly and disabled. Bengeo JMI is DDA compliant via County Council and Government regulations. That's why most schools are used.
Originally posted by Marilynquote:I think the School Cover The Avenue/ Cowper Cres etc but I don't understand why it can't cover all of us................or everyone use the Cricket Club and Church Hall and leave the School open
Originally posted by furrybunny
Marilyn, reading all these comments, I was thinking the same as you....we voted in the Cricket Club, have done for years and the Football/Cricket club get paid for this.... so again why was the school shut????
Reply ID 63813
quote:Schools are designated as polling stations as a priority buzz. I totally understand your disability issue buzz as when I get too old to walk to the post box, I'll use the internet to vote, not the cricket club with a gravel driveway that isn't DDA compliant. [:D]
Originally posted by buzzquote:If the Cricket Club is not DDA compliant, why was it being used as a Polling Station......and it is as I voted there.
Originally posted by James007quote:Let me explain Marilyn. The Church Hall and the Cricket Club are not DDA compliant. Duncombe School has only just upgraded it's facilities to cater for the elderly and disabled. Bengeo JMI is DDA compliant via County Council and Government regulations. That's why most schools are used.
Originally posted by Marilynquote:I think the School Cover The Avenue/ Cowper Cres etc but I don't understand why it can't cover all of us................or everyone use the Cricket Club and Church Hall and leave the School open
Originally posted by furrybunny
Marilyn, reading all these comments, I was thinking the same as you....we voted in the Cricket Club, have done for years and the Football/Cricket club get paid for this.... so again why was the school shut????
Reply ID 63816
quote:Ah, sorry, didn't mean to be insensitive. I didn't realise you were approaching that stage of life where you are finding it difficult to walk. A bit selfish of me not to think of you as I crunched up the non compliant driveway.[:I]
Originally posted by James007quote:Schools are designated as polling stations as a priority buzz. I totally understand your disability issue buzz as when I get too old to walk to the post box, I'll use the internet to vote, not the cricket club with a gravel driveway that isn't DDA compliant. [:D]
Originally posted by buzzquote:If the Cricket Club is not DDA compliant, why was it being used as a Polling Station......and it is as I voted there.
Originally posted by James007quote:Let me explain Marilyn. The Church Hall and the Cricket Club are not DDA compliant. Duncombe School has only just upgraded it's facilities to cater for the elderly and disabled. Bengeo JMI is DDA compliant via County Council and Government regulations. That's why most schools are used.
Originally posted by Marilynquote:I think the School Cover The Avenue/ Cowper Cres etc but I don't understand why it can't cover all of us................or everyone use the Cricket Club and Church Hall and leave the School open
Originally posted by furrybunny
Marilyn, reading all these comments, I was thinking the same as you....we voted in the Cricket Club, have done for years and the Football/Cricket club get paid for this.... so again why was the school shut????
Reply ID 63818
Let's try a little logical supposition. If there are many who wish to vote, of which some will be less able, it may be acceptable to provide some facilities which are not compliant, as long as there are alternatives nearby which are. The non-compliant venues relieve some of the load.
Reply ID 63821
quote:Can you choose where to vote? I always thought that you could only vote in person at your designated polling station as shown on your polling card?
Originally posted by shunt
Let's try a little logical supposition. If there are many who wish to vote, of which some will be less able, it may be acceptable to provide some facilities which are not compliant, as long as there are alternatives nearby which are. The non-compliant venues relieve some of the load.
Reply ID 63825
quote:Doh! That's that theory all blown to hell. How would they know who to send to which venue?
Originally posted by Deverauxquote:Can you choose where to vote? I always thought that you could only vote in person at your designated polling station as shown on your polling card?
Originally posted by shunt
Let's try a little logical supposition. If there are many who wish to vote, of which some will be less able, it may be acceptable to provide some facilities which are not compliant, as long as there are alternatives nearby which are. The non-compliant venues relieve some of the load.
Reply ID 63826
I assume though I have not checked that both parts of Bengeo School were closed so why not use both hall's one for certain areas of Bengeo and the other for those that otherwise have to use the cricket club etc? You may say it is further but a lot of elderly people had to get up and down the hill that is New Road from Bengeo Street to the CC and I know if I had not had the car my parents would not have made it, whereas the School is on the main road, and nearer the bus stop etc Plus if the CC is not compliant how can the use it? In this age of rules and regs it does seem odd.
Reply ID 63828
According to this link (pdf), polling stations don't need to be DDA compliant. http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/media/pdf/1/5/Agenda_Item_6_-_App_P.pdf They just need to make people aware of the access that is available and alternative voting methods.