A voter at last week’s elections said she was “staggered” to see the lack of disabled access at a brand new polling station.

Karen Golanksi, 58, from Oxhey, went to Oxhey Pavilion in Green Lane, Oxhey, with her polling card in hand but was “outraged” at what she saw.

In January this year, Three Rivers District Council approved to move the polling station, which was originally a mobile one at The Pavilion, to a nearby scout hut following public consultation.

Watford Observer:

One of the quicker routes to the polling station was down these steps

However, Ms Golanski described the new location of the polling station as “unsuitable” and said the new site would stop people getting their “legal right” to vote.

She said: “Anyone who needed a walking stick or was in a wheelchair would have really struggled. It’s a long way to walk round and it is quite uneven ground. And in the future when it is dark, I don’t even think the place would be properly lit.

“It’s staggering the council thought it was suitable. I feel very strongly that they shouldn’t use this place again. It’s just not fair for people.”

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Although she saw no one struggle in the time she was there, Ms Golanksi is adamant that the new site would have been difficult for elderly people.

She added that a notice for disabled access was “tiny and poorly signed”.

The polling station used to be situated in a portable building near the pavilion.

Watford Observer:

Three Rivers District Council said a review to move the polling station ran from October 24 last year to November 15.

At a meeting on January 16, the move to the new polling station was approved by the regulatory committee.

The committee instructed the council to return with feedback about the new site after May’s elections.

The council says its regulatory committee will meet on June 20 to discuss any feedback and recommendations over the continued use of the new polling station.

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