Polling Districts and Polling Places 2023 Consultation

Why we’re consulting with you

The Council is undertaking a formal review of UK Parliamentary polling districts and polling places in South Ayrshire – and we want to know what you think.

The purpose of the review is to ensure that our polling places make the best possible use of available properties and meet required provisions in terms of location, size, accessibility and availability for those voting in elections.

Based on feedback from voters, election candidates, election agents, local Councillors and election staff, we have put together proposals for changes to some polling districts and polling places.

The polling district is the geographical location where you live for voting purposes – in other words, it determines where you will vote – while the polling place is the building where you actually cast your vote.

Changes are only proposed where we believe they will make a difference or where former polling places are no longer available, so changes are only proposed for voters in wards 2 - Prestwick, 3 - Ayr North, and 4 – Ayr East.

There are no changes proposed for voters in wards 1 - Troon, 5 - Ayr West, 6 - Kyle, 7 - Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton, and 8 - Girvan and South Carrick.

Remember that – regardless of what ward or polling district you live in – you can apply for a postal vote as long as you are already registered to vote.

A postal vote means that your ballot paper is sent to you through the post and you return it by post once completed – allowing you to vote quickly and easily without having to go to a polling place on election day. Find out more about postal voting  here .

Scroll down to see what our proposed polling changes mean for you and let us know what you think.

What does this mean for me?

We’re proposing changes to a total of 2 polling places in wards 2 – Prestwick and 4 – Ayr East, and are proposing minor changes to a few polling district boundaries in ward 3 – Ayr North.

Find out what these changes mean for you:

Once you have reviewed the proposals that affect you, please provide your feedback in the final section.

Ward 2 - Prestwick

For Ward 2 – Prestwick, the following change is proposed (highlighted in red on the map):

Please note, where a school or early years centre has been designated as a proposed polling place and the election is scheduled within a fixed-term calendar, these days will be designated in-service days to minimise disruption. Where an election is unscheduled, arrangements will be put in place to ensure that – as far as possible – schools can remain open.

  • Prestwick St Cuthberts - the existing polling place – St Ninian’s Primary School is now part of Prestwick North Education Campus, Sherwood Road, Prestwick KA9 1EY and this is the proposed new polling place.​​

For all areas in Ward 2, the polling district boundaries remain unchanged.

Ward 3 - Ayr North

For Ward 3 – Ayr North, the following changes are proposed (highlighted in red on the map):

  • There is a proposed polling district boundary change for voters in the Newton South and Braehead area of Ayr in recognition of new houses on the former school site.
  • The boundary for polling district S304 will terminate in the middle of Whitletts Road and the following properties will move to polling district Ayr Dalmilling ( S307) :
    • Braehead Avenue
    • Braehead Crescent
    • Gemmell Court
    • Gemmell Crescent
    • Whitletts Road even numbers 4-54 inclusive
  • The boundary for polling district Ayr Dalmilling ( S307) will be extended to include the houses built on the former Mainholm Academy site and the properties currently within S304 ( as detailed above).
  • As a result, we propose to change the polling place for the above properties from Lochside Community Education Centre to Dalmilling Primary School

Ward 4 - Ayr East

For Ward 4 – Ayr East, the following change is proposed (highlighted in red on the map):

  • Ayr Holmston and Forehill East and Ayr Holmston and Forehill West – the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Hall is no longer available and the proposed new polling place is Kyle Academy, 21 Overmills Road, Ayr KA7 3LR.

For all areas in Ward 4, the polling district boundaries remain unchanged.

Comment

We want to know what you think of the proposed changes to polling places and polling districts that affect you.

Please complete the consultation survey and give us your views. Returns must be received by 21   December 2023 at 4pm.

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