Swindon voters go to polls 'to have voice heard'

Those Swindon voters who took themselves to a polling station on a cool, gloomy day with rain constantly threatening seemed united by a wish to have their voice heard, and, for some, a sense of duty.

Turnouts in Swindon for local elections when there is not a general election at the same time rarely get much above 40 per cent. Those who voted in person, or who had previously sent in their postal vote in Thursday's election for borough councillors and the Wiltshire and Swindon Police & Crime Commissioner looked to be in the minority.

But several expressed the view that they owed it to those previous generations who didn’t have the right to vote to use it.

In Covingham Diane Killick said: “As a woman, I’m aware that there were women who risked their lives for the right for me to vote.

"And  before them there were men who struggled the same to make sure working class men could have the vote, so I think I should vote to honour that struggle.”

With her husband Ken nodding in agreement, Mrs Killick added: “ I think it should be compulsory to vote.

“And if you don’t vote then I don’t think you have any right to complain.

“What the council does is important, and I don’t really like it when people really criticize it. I think they’re trying their best.”

Voting at the Robert le Kyng Pre-School in Central Ward Gilbert Burnett didn’t think voting should be mandatory, but did say: “You can’t complain if you don’t go and have your say

“It’s very seldom I don’t vote. It did take a lot of work to get the right, and if you have it, then I think you should exercise it.”

Voting in Covingham Nick Holt said: “If you get a good councillor then you can see the difference they make and it’s important to support them in their work.”

In a contrast to last year, where there were slightly tense scenes outside the Broadgreen community centre polling station as scores of Labour and Conservative voters gathered, the area in Salisbury Street was very calm and quiet.

Local ward member Councillor Adorabelle Shaikh, along with deputy Mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh were there with an urn of traditional spiced chai tea, handing out cups to people coming to vote. Cllr Adorabelle Shaikh said: “It’s a very well-behaved ward this year.”

The votes for councillors cast on Thursday will be counted on Friday and results announced that day.

The votes in the PCC election will be combined with those cast in Wiltshire and counted on Saturday.