Pub to lose polling station after complaints

A polling station based at a pub is being moved following complaints of voter intimidation.

But Craig Davis, the landlord of The Goodrest Tavern in Worcester, said it was party supporters causing the problems, not his customers.

“We’ve supported the area and the council for years and years, and now suddenly there’s a problem,” he said, “and the pub gets the blame as always.”

The polling station will be moved to a marquee on the car park of the Co-op next door.

Green Party councillor Hannah Cooper believed electors in her Aboretum ward would welcome the move.

She said: I’ve experienced people that are intoxicated, shouting and being very unpleasant – especially when I’ve been holding a dog and haven’t been able to retreat."

Ms Cooper also said she and fellow ward-member Karen Lewing had been stopped in the street by Muslim residents saying they don’t feel comfortable using the Goodrest Tavern because it’s a licensed venue.

She said she hoped it would lead to increased voter turnout in future.

Three other polling stations are being moved following a city-wide review:

• In the Cathedral ward, the polling station on the car park next to the play area in Waverley Street is moving to Henry Sandon Hall at the Royal Porcelain Works.

• In the Fort Royal ward, the Horizon Community Centre polling station is moving to the 214 (Worcestershire) Battery Royal Artillery building in Pheasant Street.

• The polling station in Lincoln Green, off Chelmsford Drive in Nunnery ward, is moving to Ronkswood Hub, due to “episodes of vandalism”.

The review started in August, following city council elections in May and July’s general election.

The change of polling stations will cost the council an additional £3,685 per city council election, in part due to the costs involved in putting up the marquee.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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