FOUR schools in the borough were closed on December 12 for use as polling stations, despite funding being available to the council to use alternative venues.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council chose to use five primary schools on the day of the General Election, after being asked by the education secretary to avoid this disruption during what would have been a busy time for schools with nativity plays and Christmas concerts. Four of these schools had to close as a result of the disruption.

In a letter sent to returning officers, Gavin Williamson said he wanted to keep disruption “to an absolute minimum” and urged them to avoid using schools for polling stations.

He said: “In every community there will be alternatives and I would ask that, wherever possible, these are used instead.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which is responsible for finding polling station venues, was told that central government would reimburse the costs of using alternative locations.

However, a Freedom of Information request submitted to the council, reveals that they did not take up the offer of extra funding to avoid schools being forced to close.

There were also five schools in the borough used as polling stations during the 2017 General Election.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the timing of the December election was “particularly disruptive, landing during a special time of year for many primary schools and clashing with nativity plays or other seasonal celebrations”.

Any state-funded school in the country can be forced to become a polling station. However, the final say on whether it closes lies with the headteacher and chair of governors.

Some choose to stay open, but face disruption with parts of the building closed.

Mel Barrett, returning officer at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, said: “Due to the election being called at very short notice our normal polling stations were used to avoid confusion and ensure electors could vote at their usual polling place. At the time the Secretary of State for Education published his letter, Acting Returning Officers across the country had already printed their poll cards and gone to great lengths to ensure polling stations were booked. On polling day, of the five schools used across the three constituencies within Basingstoke and Deane, four were closed and one remained open. It is the decision of the individual school as to whether they close or not.The borough council carried out a review of polling stations last year, residents were asked for their views and these have helped to inform the locations for the borough and Police and Crime Commissioner elections in May 2020. This review has reduced the number of schools used as polling stations from May 2020onwards.”