VOTERS in Clackmannanshire could see changes at four polling stations in the county at the next election. 

Polling stations in Ludgate and Forestmill are all due for a slight shake-up after changes were approved by councillors on Thursday. 

Meanwhile, the council has raised concerns about accessibility and traffic congestion at two other sites in Alva and Tullibody. 

There is also a question mark over the future of Sauchie Hall as a polling station as community asset transfer reviews progress.

Clackmannanshire’s chief executive asked councillors to review and approve the polling place shake-up and review at a meeting on Thursday morning. 

Local Authorities, including Clackmannanshire, have a legal duty to carry out periodic reviews of UK Parliamentary polling districts and polling places. The current review must be finalised by 31 January 2025. 

As part of the review, there will be changes for voters at three of Clackmannanshire’s 22 polling places. 

The council has decided to discontinue using the Alloa Baptist Church Hall as a polling place in Ludgate. Voters will instead be transferred to St Mungo’s RC Church Hall. 

Meanwhile, the voters at St Mungo’s RC Church Hall in Alloa will be transferred to the Alloa Old Peoples Welfare Hall to vote. 

The Loganlea Tea Room polling place will also be discontinued as it’s now a private residence. Voters will instead be transferred to Clackmannan Town Hall. 

The council has also put a question mark over the future of Sauchie Hall as a polling place. 

Although the council plans to continue using the hall while it can, a community asset transfer is looming on the horizon.

If required, the council has said voters could be transferred to The Whins and/or Sauchie & Coalsnaughton Church Hall. 

The chief executive also raised concerns about two polling places in Alva and Tullibody. 

“All but two of the buildings currently used at polling places were deemed suitable as a polling place,” the report said. 

At St Serf’s Church Hall in Tullibody, concerns were raised about traffic congestion and parking issues on polling day that causes “issues for local residents”. 

However, “in the absence of any other buildings that are both suitable and available in the vicinity”, the council agreed to continue using St Serf’s Church Hall in future elections. 

The council has recommended instead that the Elections Team liaise with Police Scotland and Clackmannanshire Council Roads Department ahead of the next election to address enforcement and traffic concerns. 

There were also accessibility concerns at St John Vianney’s Church Hall in Alva. 

“There was one comment indicating that access was difficult for physically impaired voters and had poor lighting at the entrance,” a council report stated. 

However, during a site visit, the chief executive said this had not been the case. 

The council decided to continue using the St John Vianney’s Church Hall as a polling place for the time being, but the council will hold a community consultation on polling day over the next two elections to determine voters’ wishes in the long term.