The venues that cannot be used for Christmas election

ALTERNATIVE POLLING stations have had to be found by Yorkshire’s council chiefs for the upcoming election because the existing venues were already in use for pre-Christmas events.

A small proportion of venues that town halls had hoped to use for the first December election since 1923 were not available, though the region’s authorities have secured their first choice of venue for the election counts.

Leeds City Council, will be using the First Direct Arena for its election count on December 12, the night after Rod Stewart plays at the venue.

Chief executive Tom Riordan said: “It’s always going to be a big logistical feat organising a large election covering eight constituencies and this time of year provides extra challenge in that some small venues we’d normally use for polling are already booked for Christmas activities.

“Our officers are working to secure replacements and venues will be found, but electors may find themselves voting in different, and more unusual locations than usual.”

Elsewhere in the region, councils contacted by The Yorkshire Post said the majority of the polling stations they hoped to use were available. But they would have to wait until schools return from half-term holidays to confirm some of the sites.

In a small number of cases new polling stations will have to be found. East Riding of Yorkshire Council said so far alternative plans were required for just four out of 213 venues.

And Barnsley council said only one of its 151 polling stations was found to be unavailable so far. This is Emmanuel Methodist Church on Huddersfield Road, which has a large concert on December 13 with preparations “well advanced” on election day.