COUNCILLORS TO BE ANNOUNCED AFTER A DAY AT THE POLLS

COUNT UNDERWAY TODAY TO SEE WHO WILL CONTROL TOWN HALL

HOW North East Lincolnshire Council will be run for the coming term will be determined today after residents cast their votes at polling stations yesterday.

Ballot papers were safely delivered to Grimsby Auditorium overnight, ready to be counted today, Friday, May 7. Counting is due to start at 9am and voters should know who has been elected for all seats by 4pm.

One councillor will be elected in each of the Croft Baker, Freshney, Haverstoe, Heneage, Humberston and New Waltham, Immingham, Park, Sidney Sussex, South and Yarborough wards, and two in each of East Marsh and Scartho. There is no council election in Waltham, West Marsh or Wolds wards. The count will also reveal who has been elected in the vote for the next Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner.

The council is currently under Conservative control with 23 councillors, Labour have 14 and the Liberal Democrats have four councillors. Ukip have one ward councillor in South ward. There will be strict restrictions in place to protect staff carrying out the counts which will be well segregated in the main hall and also in an adjoining gymnasium room.

The turnout for each ward will also be announced at the count. Yesterday, a number of new polling stations opened to help keep voters Covid safe.

Schools were not used so children were not disrupted, and instead portable buildings and churches were used. Regular cleaning also took place at polling stations to ensure hygiene standards were met.

Grimsby Town fan Melvin Wright voted at Park Congregational Church Hall. He said: “People should vote every time. We have problems in our street. Eleanor Street used to be great but there is drug dealing going on. You can tell by the queuing that goes on and the funny handshakes.” Another voter, Rachel Branson said: “I vote for the councillors who do their best for the ward.

“There are councillors who are invisible but the ones we have like Steve Beasant and Kay Rudd get things done, just look at Grant Thorold Park.”

East Marsh voter Yamin Butt said: “I voted Labour. I always do ever since I lived in London. The Conservatives are good too but Labour is for the working people.

“I hope people come to vote.”

I vote for the councillors who do their best for the ward. There are ones who are invisible

Rachel Branson