A council decision to close a number of rural polling stations for forthcoming elections will “effectively disenfranchise” people living in remote parts of Perthshire, it has been claimed.
At a full council meeting a review recommending changes to polling districts and polling places in Perth and Kinross was unanimously voted through.
This included discontinuing the use of schools and polling places with an electorate of less than 100, of which there are six.
They are Glenlyon Primary, Georgetown Hall in Bridge of Gaur, Butterstone Hall, Amulree Hall, Aberdalgie Church vestry and Forteviot Village Hall.
The decision has angered Helen Taylor of Amulree, who will now be faced with a round trip of over 20 miles to cast her vote, should she not send it in by post.
“I am very concerned about these proposals as I believe that they amount to yet another attack on the rural communities of Perthshire,” she said.
“The rural polling station closures proposed include Amulree Hall, Bridge of Gaur and Glenlyon Primary School.
“The closure of these polling stations would be contrary to the Perth and Kinross Council vision, which claims to want to see Perth and Kinross as ‘a place where people and communities are nurtured and supported.’
“The closure of these polling stations does the opposite of that.
“The council’s corporate plan also sets out key priorities, which include promoting social inclusion, providing equality of opportunity and access, and supporting community engagement.
“The closure of Amulree and the other rural polling stations would be totally contrary to these priorities as these rural communities would have a reduced opportunity and access to democratic services, would be disadvantaged and socially excluded. “Community engagement would be discouraged. A round trip of 20 to 30 miles for a rural voter, who may have no other reason to travel this distance on polling day and who may be working long hours at farming or other estate work, is likely to be effectively disenfranchised by this proposal.
“The savings made in closing these rural polling stations would amount to less than £3000 (the exact figure is £2699) every election, less than £10 per person who voted at these polling stations last time.”
The closures are not yet set in stone. There is a statutory consultation period during which any registered elector, MPs, MSPs and councillors will be able to comment on the proposals.