Public urged to go to polls as all 60 council seats are up for re-election
ROCHDALE Council is urging everyone who is eligible to vote to be ready for the upcoming council elections.
On Thursday May 5 Rochdale residents will go to the polls to vote for their local councillors, with all 60 council seats being contested this time around.
This means that electors will be able to vote for up to three candidates in their ward instead of just one.
Councillors are responsible for making decisions on running local services including housing, education, transport, planning, parks, leisure, public safety, social care and waste collections.
The 163,619 registered voters in the borough have been issued their poll card and 43,203 postal votes have been issued.
Clare Poole, elections manager said: “Whether you’re voting in person or by post it’s quick and easy.
“Your poll card will tell you where to find your polling station. You do not need your poll card to vote.
“However we encourage you to bring it with you to make the process more efficient.
“Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm.
“Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm; they can hand it in at their polling station if they don’t have time to return it by post.
“These all-out elections this year are so important, they’re an opportunity to make your voice heard and have a say on who represents you on issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in the borough.”
Anyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms, is self-isolating, has a medical emergency or suddenly cannot go to the polling station due to work commitments has up to 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote.
This allows them to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf.
Polling station staff will take names and addresses to check whether people are on the register before voters are given a ballot paper.
Voting booths ensure votes are cast in private and staff will be on hand at the polling stations to assist if you need any help.
Those unable to leave their homes to post their postal votes by themselves, because of health or mobility problems, can call the council on 0300 303 0345 to have them collected.
To help the process run smoothly the council is asking that all postal votes are returned as soon as possible, ideally so they arrive by 4 May.
However, they can be delivered in person to Number One Riverside, Smith Street, Rochdale, or a polling station within the area up until 10pm on Thursday 5 May when polls close.
To find details of the candidates, locations of polling stations, apply for a proxy vote and to get the results when announced on Friday 6 May, visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/elections.
WHAT you’ve been saying on our Facebook page:
● E-SCOOTERS could yet return to the streets of Rochdale despite council bosses calling time on a controversial trial. Run by Lime – which has scooters in 125 cities across the world – the year long pilot came to an end last month, with council chiefs opting not to extend the scheme by a further six months (April 22).
Anthony Warren: Great!! The river was looking a bit empty. Norrie Cadman: What a load of nonsense, these scooters cut out short car journeys.
Most of the people who I have seen using them have probably not even got a car licence. Prove me wrong please. Stebus: The “streets” of Rochdale?
I’ve seen more in the river and canal.
● SHOULD dogs be allowed on the tram? It’s a debate as old as time – or at least as old as the Metrolink, which has been around since 1992. Dogs have never been allowed on Greater Manchester’s yellow carriages, but a trial allowing furry friends to ride the Metrolink with their owners is likely coming later this year, Transport for Greater Manchester confirmed yesterday (page 10).
Anita Stridgen Parry: Well behaved dogs should be allowed on trams on a lead obviously. Dogs are better behaved than people. Shirley Evans: Dogs have been allowed on the trams in Blackpool for years! Martin Pïnningtön: Peoples fear of dogs doesn’t necessarily come from a bad encounter, some people are just afraid of dogs. and, for those people, the ever expanding list of places where dogs are now welcomed must be very difficult. especially given there seems to be a greater number of irresponsible dog owners, who give the rest a bad name, these days.
FORMER Rochdale AFC footballer Joe Thompson said ‘miracles
● do happen’ as he proudly revealed he and his wife are expecting a baby later this year. Joe and his wife, Chantelle, are parents to daughter Thailula Lily, but last year revealed the heartbreaking loss of a baby boy (April 20).
Michelle Earnshaw: Lovely.
● A HUGE new warehouse is to be built at an industrial estate despite the ‘inescapable’ impact it will have on the surrounding green belt. Standing at 15m tall and covering nearly 90,000 square foot the building will replace two smaller units at Birch Business Park, near Heywood (April 19).
Ian Bamford: Not from your area myself but all I see is big corporate business in every town and city like this, where are all the affordable units for the start up companies and small businesses?
Now that all the old mills are being turned into luxury apartments or industrial places being flattened and a new complex that’s not affordable.
Very sad really and it’s not going to create more jobs as there filling these places and replacing all to robots and not human. Jason Ohara: Another sad case. Melanie Jones: I live within sight of Kingsway business Park.
When I moved here 20 years ago I had a great view Now all I can see is warehouses