Moment of election truth as boot’s made to vote in
WALES went to the polls yesterday to elect its representatives on councils across the country.
Polling stations opened at 7am and closed at 10pm.
Counts have been taking place overnight in some local authorities.
Caerphilly, Anglesey, Carmarthenshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Gwynedd and Powys will count today.
In authorities where no one party gained overall control, negotiations about coalitions will begin.
Some voters in Margam had to vote from the boot of a car after a mix-up.
Attila Balla, 54, from Margam Village, went to his local polling station at Coed Hirwaun Primary School, only to find all the doors and gates locked.
Mr Balla wanted to be part of that decision and arrived at 6.55am at his local polling station, with voting due to begin five minutes later.
When 7am came round there was still no sign of the key-holder so voting commenced – in a car.
Mr Balla said: “I thought it was a bit of a shambles, to be honest, it’s embarrassing.”
The key-holder for the primary school eventually showed up at 7.10am, claiming not to have been told about the polling station location for the day.
On having to cast his vote from the back of a car, he said: “I was a bit disillusioned with it, only two of us did it, but it was a bit odd sitting in a Mercedes.”
A spokesman for Neath Port Talbot Council said: “We are aware that there was a slight delay in opening Coed Hirwaun Primary School this morning. The presiding officer took action to run the polling station from their car from 7am; consequently there was no impact on people’s ability to cast their votes. This is a prearranged back-up plan in case of any emergencies. The school was opened a short time later and the polling station is now operating from there until 10pm this evening.”
As polling stations opened across Cardiff, we spoke to a number of voters about the issues they had in mind when casting their vote.
Marie Lewis said: “I have always been concerned about the traffic on Allensbank Road, particularly going from Highfield estate down towards the hospital.
“The traffic tends to go a bit too fast and it’s dangerous.”
David Lewis said: “One thing I am concerned with is whether the Wedal Road refuse collection depot is maintained, I think it’s a useful community facility.”
Another voter, Joy Davies, said: “One thing I am concerned about in this area is to keep Wedal Road open.
“I think for the residents of north Cardiff we need somewhere local, otherwise there’s going to be an increase in fly-tipping.”
Fred Cutwell said: “I feel strongly that something ought to be done about the footpaths on Velindre Road and the adjacent street.
“They’re too narrow and the surface is too rough. If you’re pushing one of these walking aids or a pushchair you have to give way to whoever is coming towards you.”
Wendy Payne said: “I’d like to see more day care facilities for the elderly, more opportunities to do things locally. I’d also just like to see some traffic improvements really as well.”
Before the vote, Labour was the biggest party in Welsh local government, with the party controlling 12 councils including the biggest three: Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Swansea.
Labour went into the local election with the most to lose.
In 2012 they raised their seat numbers by 200, with a total of 580 Labour councillors.
But party leader Carwyn Jones had said that it would be “tough” for Labour to avoid losses.
In March he told the Huffington Post: “Council elections are just weeks away, and whilst we will be going all out to secure every vote we can, we know it will be tough to replicate our stellar results in 2012.”
Plaid Cymru is the second-biggest player in Welsh councils and the party was hopeful of gains.
It has more than 550 candidates standing across Wales. They went into the election with 170 councillors.
The Tories and Lib Dems were both hopeful of gains, with the Lib Dems optimistic they could wrest control of Cardiff from Labour.