This page aims to answer all of your questions about the Chatteris Parish Poll, which will take place between 4pm and 9pm on Tuesday 7th June 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a Parish Poll?

    Parish Polls were introduced in Schedule 12 of The Local Government Act 1972. A Parish Poll is like a mini-referendum on a local issue. You can read more about Parish Polls on askyourcouncil.

    What is the question that will be voted on?

    Parish Polls should usually have a “Yes” or “No” answer. The question in this poll is:

    Would you like Wenny Meadow to be designated as a Local Green Space and protected from development?

    What is a Local Green Space?

    See the Local Green Spaces page for more information.

    Where is Wenny Meadow? or Which bit of Chatteris is the poll asking about?

    See the shaded area on this Google map, or the image on the home page. You can also find out more on the “Wenny Meadow” page.

    Why “Wenny Meadow”? I know it as something else.

    The name “Wenny Meadow” was adopted by local campaigners, but it has been known by a variety of names over the years. You can read more on the “Wenny Meadow” page.

    Isn’t Wenny Meadow privately owned?

    Wenny Meadow is privately owned and is the subject of a planning application. This does not affect Local Green Space designation, which does not confer any additional rights on the public nor responsibilities on the landowners. You can find out more on the Local Green Spaces page, the “Wenny Meadow” page and the Development Context page.

    Why is there going to be a poll?

    The poll was called by local residents at the Chatteris Annual Town Meeting. The meeting, which was open to all electors of Chatteris, voted 32-3 in favour of holding the poll.

    Who can vote in the poll?

    Like all other local and national elections in Fenland, the poll is open to all residents of Chatteris over the age of 18. You must be registered on the electoral register.

    If you are not on the electoral register (for example, if you have recently turned 18 or have recently moved to the area) then you must register to vote as soon as possible in order to take part in the poll. You can do this online, and it only takes a few minutes.

    How do I register to vote?

    You can register to vote online. It only takes a few minutes. You should register as soon as possible if you would like to vote in the poll.

    When is the poll?

    The poll will be held between 4pm and 9pm on Tuesday 7th June 2022.

    Why is voting only open during the evening?

    The legislation governing Parish Polls stipulates that voting must take place between 4pm and 9pm on the day of the poll.

    Where do I vote?

    The legislation requires that voting is held in-person at a polling station. Visit the voting page for more details, including the location of polling stations. You can also find your polling station using the council’s Find My Polling Station tool.

    Will there be postal or proxy votes?

    The legislation governing Parish Polls requires that all voting is done in-person, with no provision for proxy or postal votes.

    Why haven’t I received a polling card?

    The legislation governing Parish Polls does not require the council to send polling cards to households, and in order to keep costs of the poll low the council will not be sending polling cards. You can find out how and where to vote on the Voting page. You can also find your polling station using the council’s Find My Polling Station tool. You must still be registered to vote. You can register to vote online.

    Is the poll binding, and is the council required to implement the result?

    The poll is not legally binding. This means that neither Chatteris Town Council nor Fenland District Council is required to take any particular action based on the outcome of the poll. The poll is an indication of the views of the electorate.

    Will Local Green Space designation mean people can use Wenny Meadow?

    Local Green Space designation is only relevant to planning matters. It does not confer additional rights upon the public, nor does it confer additional responsibilities upon land owners. You can find out more on the Local Green Spaces page.

    How are you informing people that the poll is taking place?

    There are posters in prominent places around the town advertising the date, location, and question of the poll.

    For transparency, the list of locations is below and will be updated as further locations are added:

    • Chatteris Post Office, High Street (in the window)
    • Limat Food and Wine (formerly Simpsons Newsagents), High Street (on outside wall)
    • Chatteris Discount Stores, High Street (in the window)
    • Tesco, Fenland Way (on the community noticeboard)
    • Curl Up & Dye, Park Street (in the window)
    • Parduotuve, Park Street (in the window)
    • Sandi & Sam’s Hair Salon, East Park Street (in the window)
    • Chatteris Pet Supplies, High Street (in the window)
    • Chatteris Kebab, Park Street (in the window)
    • The George Hotel, High Street (in the window)
    • The Old Bakery Tearoom, Market Hill (in the window)
    • Rumbles, West Park Street (on the wall inside)
    • TP24, Park Street (in the window)
    • Rainbow Valley, High Street (in the window)
    • Nana’s Tearoom, High Street (inside on wall)
    • The Barber Shop, West Park Street (in the window)
    • Bridge House, Bridge Street (in the window and inside)

    If you are able to host a poster, please tell Lawrence Weetman.

    How will people without internet access find out more about the poll?

    The posters for the poll direct people to this website or to view an exhibition board at the rear of the Parish Church, which will contain information about the poll similar to that contained on this website. The opening times of the church are listed on the poster.

    Who will be holding/managing the poll?

    In accordance with The Local Government Act 1972, the poll will be conducted by Fenland District Council. The poll is being managed by the same team that runs all other elections in the area.

    Who will be counting the votes?

    The count will be managed by Fenland District Council, with the result declared by the Returning Officer. The count is being managed by the same team that runs all other elections in the area.

    How will electoral fraud be combatted?

    Only eligible members of the public, registered on the electoral register, will be permitted to vote. The vote will be ran by the same electoral services team that runs all other local and national elections in Fenland. The Local Government Act 1972 and The Representation of the People Act 1983 each set out various offences and potential sentences, some of which are specific to Parish Polls.

    Who created this website?

    This website and Parish Church display board were made by me, Lawrence Weetman, to provide information about the poll. Given that no poll cards are being sent, I thought it would be useful to make a website and display board to tell people how, where, and when they can vote. I also thought it would be useful to give background information about the site based on the developer’s documents and “Local Green Spaces”, since these will be a new concept for most people.

    If you have any feedback, please contact Lawrence Weetman.

    Who created the “Notice of Poll” posters with green headings?

    These were created by me, Lawrence Weetman. Given that no polling cards are being sent, and given that Fenland District Council will not be sending notices of the poll to the Town Council until five working days before the poll, I thought it was important to share this information as soon as possible for those who do not have access to the internet and/or social media.

    The posters are designed to be very neutral. They contain:

    • the question that will be on the ballot paper;
    • the date/time of the poll;
    • the locations of the polling stations;
    • information telling the reader that polling cards will not be sent;
    • a reminder that people must be registered to vote;
    • a link to this website, and instructions about how to view this information at the Parish Church; and
    • a satellite image identifying the location of the piece of land that is the subject of the poll.

    Is this website impartial/neutral?

    The website was created by me, Lawrence Weetman. I am a prominent supporter of the campaign to preserve the meadow, but I have tried to keep this website as neutral and objective as I can.

    I have done this by:

    • only including information that is backed-up by documentary sources, with links provided to those sources;
    • taking onboard feedback provided by people on all sides of the poll to ensure that important background points are covered;
    • avoiding making any comments/points that could be construed as “campaigning” for one side or the other; and
    • not linking or sharing any “campaign material” on this website.

    If you spot any elements of this website that could be worded or structured in a way that would render them more impartial/objective, if you think anything should/shouldn’t be included here, or if you have documentary evidence that contradicts anything on this website then please contact or speak to me.