Sleaford Town Poll - was it apathy?

You can't win! The poll last week saw people queuing outside the Jolly Scotchman from 4.0pm onwards trying to vote. Some were turned away because they had come to the wrong pollling station. Averaging across the 3 polling stations in Sleaford, over the 5 hours available, over 160 people voted per hour. This, on a poll that was only called in late April.

Had we been restricted to only one polling station (the Source) as was originally decided, the turnout would have been lower. But apathy no! So I was surprised to see the the comments in the local Sleaford Target: "High Level Voter Apathy".

I do agree however that the cost of these polls is enormous and the money, in view of the patronizing statements made, could be better spent on vital services.

Sleaford Station Crossing Poll

I went to vote yesterday on the Town Poll called to allow residents to voice there opinion on the proposal to close the Station crossing. The Poll, asking residents if they approved or disapproved of the proposal to close the Station Gates, was as follows: Yes approve: 200; no: 2,274. On my reckoning the percentage saying no was 91.9%.

There were queues at the Jolly Scotchman when I went at about 4.25 pm. Some were turned away as they had come to the wrong polling station.

I have covered this topic in more detail here!

May 5th Election Result

The District Election result for Holdingham was:

Sleaford Holdingham: Becky Dunbar-Beckford (Cons) 254, Peter Haysum (Ind) 470 - elected.

The Town Council Result was:

Holdingham: John Charlesworth (Ind) 378 - elected, Becky Dunbar-Beckford (Cons) 310 - elected, Ken Fernandes (Lincs Ind) 491 - elected, James O’Toole (Ind) 153.

Sleaford Children and Youth Centre Combined

I went down to Money's Yard yesterday and was pleased to see that the new centre is operational. Well done Connexions et al including County. The local press are also covering this event in todays papers.

The first Youth Club meeting is tonight (Wednesday). The centre at St Georges is now closed permanantly I presume - it certainly was yesterday.

Station Gate Poll

Update: Latest: Three polling stations are proposed for the 19th to be open between 1600hr (4.pm in old money) and 2100 (9.00pm). However availability of the venues (Quarrington, The Source and north Sleaford) is still being investigated. Let us hope the Jolly Scotchman is available.

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The final details of the Station Gate Poll should be made this Wednesday (27th) - at the Town Council meeting. The details will include the number of polling stations and where.

Sleaford Town Meeting: Station Crossing

Should the SouthGate East Railway Crossing be closed?

Postnote: the expected Town Poll appears to be 19th May. But watch out on the news as the wording seems different to that proposed - so things might change.

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A Town Meeting took place last night (Thursday 14th) on the subject of the Station Crossing at the junction of Grantham Road and Southgate. It (the meeting) was almost unanimously in favour of a Town Poll on the question of whether or not the Gate should be kept open.

This concern obviously was a reaction to the proposed Bridge. The only question is, and an important one: why hasn't this involvement by local people been done before (NKDC approved it in 2009 on Sleaford's behalf) - and will this impact on the SE Regeneration Plan and the associated proposed road through the Boston Road Recreation Ground?

Anyway watch out for the poll date. It has to be held within, I think, 25 working days.

Is Holdingham the best side of town?

I ask the question just to raise an issue - resulting from articles, and the letters, going backwards and forward in the local press. namely all the hoo-ha going on about Bass Maltings, Rec Road, new Tesco et al.

Most of these issues have been going on for years and some headlines appear like re-runs of old movies. Promises of jobs here and there but everything really going on and on as before.