The local elections are being held on Thursday 2 May for Allerdale Borough Council and town and parish councils throughout the Allerdale area. 

These are the first borough council elections under the new boundaries recently established by the Boundary Commission. This has seen the number wards cut by eight to 23 and with 49, rather than 56, councillors. The changes have also meant a redrawing of the ward boundary map. Electors can check the new ward boundaries via the council’s website. 

The changes also mean that there are a number of new polling stations, so residents are reminded to check their poll card to make sure they know where they have to go to vote.  

The deadline for applying for a postal or normal proxy vote have now passed. An emergency proxy vote can be applied for by 5pm on the day of the election, and the elector is required to provide evidence as to why the application is being made. 

There are three borough wards which are uncontested. These are: Allhallows & Waverton (one seat); Boltons (one seat); and Marsh & Wampool (two seats).  

Andrew Seekings, Electoral Registration Officer, said: “It is important that people have their say at these local elections, so I’d encourage everyone checks their poll card to see where they are due to vote. You can also find details about the election, and who is standing on our website.” 

The local elections also see contests being held in two parish councils and 14 town council wards.  

If you haven’t received a postal vote pack for the 2nd May elections and you live in the Marsh and Wampool, Allhallow and Waverton or Boltons ward this is because the elections in your area are uncontested. Please check your poll card as it will tell you which area you live in. Bowness parish council is contested, and is the only part of Marsh and Wampool, so if you haven't had a postal vote and live in this area please do contact the council's electoral services team on 01900 702 550.

There are also changes to some of the town and parish council elections after a number of community governance reviews. For Workington Town Council, the number of wards has reduced from 11 to eight and the number of councillors is dropping by five to 25. 

In addition the number of councillors on Broughton Parish Council was recently reduced to ten. Electors in the Embleton Parish Council area will notice that their council is no longer spilt into three separate wards.  

The final changes are in Keswick, where some electors will be voting for candidates on Keswick Town Council for the first time after alterations to the town council boundary. This means some electors previously voting in Underskiddaw parish elections will now be voting for candidates on Keswick Town Council for Keswick West ward. The boundary changes also affect some properties previously considered part of St Johns, Castlerigg and Wythburn parish as well. They were to be voting for candidates in Keswick East ward, however this election has this week been stopped due to the death of one of the candidates, Martin Pugmire. A new date for this election will be announced. 

A by-election for the Cumbria County Council Thursby ward is uncontested after one candidate, Mr Michael Andrew Johnson, was nominated. The seat became vacant after the death of Cllr Duncan Fairbairn in 2018. 

With plans in place to hold European Parliament elections on 23 May 2019, voters are also reminded not to be confused by new polling cards for this election which will be arriving on doormats next week.   
 

Find out more about the elections.