SOME residents of an East Lancashire borough will have to vote in elections at a new polling station.

The changes in Blackburn with Darwen follow a review.

The new polling arrangements would be implemented at the next scheduled local government elections on May 2 2024 – or earlier in the event of a General Election or a referendum.

Recommendations for the voting shake up are due to be approved by the local authority's Policy Council meeting on Thursday.

Some polling stations are to be moved while some voters may find that the location where they cast their ballot will change within their electoral ward.

The recommendations are for the vast majority of polling stations to remain the same, although some polling district boundaries within existing wards are to be amended to take account of new housing developments. Electoral ward boundaries are not changing.

The proposed changes to polling stations include: * Audley and Queen’s Park ward - moving the polling station from St. Thomas C.E. Primary School in Newton Street to St Joseph’s Church in Audley Range;

* Bastwell and Daisyfield ward - moving the polling station from Daisyfield Pools in Daisy Lane to the Young People’s Service Daisyfield Base in Moss Street;

* Billinge and Beardwood ward - potentially moving the polling station at Lammack Methodist Church in Lammack Road to Lammack Primary School should the church become unavailable;

* Blackburn Central ward- moving the polling station from from St Wilfrid’s School to St Luke’s Church and potentially moving the polling station from St. Alban’s Church in Lark Hill to St Albans Primary School should the church become unavailable;

* Livesey with Pleasington ward - replacing the mobile polling station on the car park at St Bedes RC School in Green Lane into the main building; and

* Shear Brown and Corporation Park ward - moving the polling station from St James CE Primary School in Earl Street to St James Church on the corner of Earl Street and St James Road.

In Darwen West ward the review recommends considering moving the polling station to Avondale School should Darwen Methodist Church become unavailable and moving it equivalent from Holy Trinity CE Primary to Darwen Leisure Centre after the May 2024 elections.

Denise Park, the borough's chief executive and returning officer, said: “Local authorities have a duty to regularly review their polling places, including polling district boundaries within electoral wards and polling station locations.

“When designating polling places, we must ensure that set criteria are met relating to the location, facilities - including private areas for checking voters’ photo ID - accessibility, health and safety, and space.“