Redbridge is set to change polling places across 16 wards in preparation for the 2026 local elections, aiming to improve accessibility and convenience for voters. The changes are designed to ensure all electors, including those with disabilities, can easily access polling stations. The proposed polling places have been carefully assessed in line with the accessibility requirements set out in the Elections Act 2022, as well as the duties under section 149 of The Equalities Act 2010.
The decision, made at a General Purposes Committee meeting on Wednesday 23 July 2025, follows a comprehensive review conducted in accordance with the Representation of the People Act 1983 and the Electoral Administration Act 2006. The review sought to ensure that all polling places and stations in Redbridge are accessible, suitable, and fit for purpose, with a key objective of locating polling places within the polling district whenever possible.
A public consultation was held from 29 July 2024 to 23 September 2024, engaging with existing polling places, councillors, MPs, and community groups. Eighteen responses were received. For example, in Valentines Ward, eleven responses were received regarding electors having to travel a long distance to vote, which led to the recommendation of The Morning Room, Valentines Mansion as a polling place. In Churchfields Ward, feedback from the public consultation states Woodford Methodist Church, Derby Road is a great venue in CF3 which regularly receives positive comments from polling staff and electors. This venue will remain a Polling Place. Feedback was also gathered from presiding officers and polling station inspectors from the 2024 Greater London Authority Elections, the UK Parliamentary General Election, and three by-elections held in 2024 and 2025.
Key Reasons for Changes
Beyond general accessibility and suitability, the changes address several specific issues:
- Moving away from the use of schools: In several wards (e.g., Barkingside, Bridge, Churchfields, Fullwell, Hainault, Mayfield, Monkhams, Newbury, Seven Kings, Valentines, Wanstead Park), the changes were made to avoid disrupting schools and students.
- Addressing feedback from polling staff and electors: In Bridge Ward, the change from a minibus to Virgin Active Gym was due to complaints about the minibus's discomfort and high costs.
- Ward boundary changes: In Clementswood Ward, the continued use of existing polling places was recommended due to the merging of previous Polling Districts. In Newbury Ward, boundary changes led to the division of polling districts and the recommendation of different polling places.
- Polling places outside of the ward: In Churchfields Ward, Salway Church was recommended because Sir James Hawkey Hall is outside of the ward.
- Accommodating newly created polling districts: In Cranbrook Ward, Cranbrook Castle Lawn Tennis and Social Club was recommended for the newly created Polling District of CR4.
- Replacing temporary polling places: In Goodmayes Ward, Goodmayes Baptist Church was recommended to replace the need for a Portakabin.
- Ensuring polling place is within the polling district: In Valentines Ward, Jubilee Church Ilford was recommended as the previous polling place was outside the polling district.
Key Changes Across Wards
Several changes are planned across the borough. For example:
- In Barkingside Ward, Gants Hill Library is recommended as an alternative to St Augustine's Catholic Primary School.
- In Bridge Ward, St Pauls Church Hall and St Barnabas Church, Snakes Lane East are recommended as alternatives to Roding Primary School and Ray Lodge Primary School respectively. Virgin Active Gym within the Repton Park community is recommended to replace the minibus currently used.
- In Churchfields Ward, Bridge Church, Latchett Road and Redbridge Drama Centre, Churchfields are recommended as alternatives to Woodbridge High School and Churchfields Junior School respectively. Salway Church, Forest Approach is recommended as a polling place because Sir James Hawkey Hall in Broomhill Road is outside of the ward.
- In Clayhall Ward, Roding Lane Free Church, Roding Lane South, is recommended as an alternative polling place to Redbridge Primary School.
- In Cranbrook Ward, Cranbrook Castle Lawn Tennis and Social Club, Pavilion Road is recommended as a Polling Place for the newly created Polling District of CR4.
- In Clementswood Ward, continued use of St Albans Church Hall, Albert Road and Cleveland Road Primary School, Dudley Road is recommended due to the merging of previous Polling Districts.
- In Fullwell Ward, St Cedds C of E Church, Marston Road and Holy Trinity Barkingside C of E Church, Mossford Green are recommended to replace Glade Primary School and Mossford Green Primary School respectively.
- In Goodmayes Ward, Goodmayes Baptist Church, Goodmayes Road is recommended as a Polling Place to replace the need for the Portakabin in Seven Kings Car Park.
- In Hainault Ward, St Paul's Church, Arrowsmith Road and Hainault Library, Manford Way are recommended instead of Coppice Primary School, Burrow Road and John Bramston Primary School, Newcastle Avenue respectively.
- In Ilford Town Ward, Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road is recommended due to Ilford Town Polling Districts being reduced from five down to three.
- In Mayfield Ward, Goodmayes Library, Goodmayes Lane and South Park Chapel, Ripley Road are recommended as alternatives to Mayespark Primary School, Goodmayes Lane and South Park Primary School respectively.
- In Monkhams Ward, St Thomas of Canterbury Church, High Road, Woodford Green and Woodford Bowling Club, Kings Avenue are recommended as suitable alternative Polling Places to St Anthony's RC Primary School, Mornington Road and Elderberries Day Centre, Broadmead Road respectively.
- In Newbury Ward, St Margaret's Church Hall, Balfour Road, St Aidan's Catholic Primary Academy, Bradford Road and Aldborough Primary School, Aldborough Road South are recommended for the differently divided Polling Districts.
- In Seven Kings Ward, Seven Kings United Free Church, Meads Lane is recommended as a suitable alternative to Downshall Primary School, Meads Lane.
- In Valentines Ward, Ilford Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Coventry Road, Jubilee Church Ilford, Granville Road and The Morning Room, Valentines Mansion, Emerson Road are recommended as alternatives to Christchurch Primary School, Children's Centre, Melbourne Road, The Ursuline Academy, Cranbrook Road and Christchurch Children's Centre, Melbourne Road respectively.
- In Wanstead Park Ward, Aldersbrook Bowls Club, Aldersbrook Road is recommended as an alternative to Aldersbrook Primary School, Harpenden Road.
The committee has delegated authority to the Chief Executive to designate alternative polling places if any location becomes unavailable or a more suitable option is identified, following consultation with the Group Chief Whips and respective ward councillors. This delegation allows for flexibility should unforeseen circumstances arise. The criteria for 'more suitable' options are not explicitly defined in the Polling Places Review Report - 2025, but any changes would require consultation with relevant parties.
The review also addressed fairness implications, ensuring that the proposed polling places have been carefully assessed for accessibility requirements as set out in the Elections Act 2022, in line with the Equalities Act 2010.
The costs of Local Government elections are funded by the local authority, using a dedicated reserve. Any additional costs of local elections resulting from the recommendations in this report will be met from these accumulated electoral reserves. The costs of all other elections (other than Local Government elections) are met by central government, and any increased costs resulting from these proposals would be classified as legitimate Returning Officer expenses, for which the Authority would be fully reimbursed.
