Constituency Review 2023

Currently RVA and RVB poling districts are in the Rotherham constituency and RVC and RVD and in the Rother Valley constituency.  When the new Parliamentary constituency boundaries come into force, all of Rother Vale ward will be in the Rotherham constituency.

Current arrangements

There is potential for the following housing developments:

• RVA: Approx 64 properties with an estimated polling station electorate of 79
• RVB: Approx 300 properties with an estimated polling station electorate of 276
• RVC: Approx 45 properties with an estimated polling station electorate of 58
• RVD: Approx 2820 properties with an estimated polling station electorate of 3,688

(Acting) Returning Officer’s comments and proposals

1. AMP Technology Centre is the polling place for RVB and RVD polling districts and is located on a commercial estate. With continued housing developments in the area, the electorates are increasing and the (Acting) Returning Officer is aware that the space available at AMP Technology Centre will soon not be big enough.  Added to this, the location of AMP Technology Centre may be difficult for some electors to access, however at the time it was designated the polling place for RVB and RVD, there were no other suitable buildings in the polling districts.

Since the last review, Waverley Junior Academy has opened, which is located within the residential area and accessible to both polling districts, as it is located on the boundary between RVB and RVD.Whilst the (Acting) Returning Officer’s preference is to minimise the use of schools, in this case, it is the most suitable building in terms of accessibility and location for electors in both polling districts.Therefore the (Acting) Returning Officer proposes that Waverley Junior Academy is allocated as the polling place for RVB and RVD polling districts.

2. The current polling district boundary between RVB and RVD polling districts was designated before some of the current housing was built.  This has meant that as new properties have been built, the polling district boundary line runs through some of the houses.  Therefore, the (Acting) Returning Officer proposes to align the polling district boundary between RVB and RVD polling districts so that it runs down the middle of Highfield Lane.  This will not impact on electors in either polling district, as they go to the same polling place.
3. Given the potential for significant housing development in the RVD polling district, it would be too difficult to predict the best way to split the current polling district without the developments nearing completion.  As the current polling station electorate is considerably below the recommended maximum polling station electorate, the (Acting) Retuning Officer does not propose any changes at this time.  However, an interim review will be carried out when some of the potential development near completion.

(Acting) Returning Officer’s proposed arrangements

* Electorate figures include projected increase due to potential housing development