Polling stations open for Election 2015

The polls opened at 7am this morning as people across the country cast their votes in the general election.

A total of 650 Westminster MPs will be elected, with about 50 million people registered to vote. As well as the general election, there are more than 9,000 council seats being contested across 279 English local authorities.

Residents in the Shropshire Council area are voting in the Parliamentary elections only, whilst those living in Telford and Wrekin are voting in Parliamentary, Borough and Town and Parish Council elections.

Speaking of the local elections in the borough of Telford & Wrekin, Returning Officer, Richard Partington, said: “Local councillors make vital decisions affecting communities and families across the borough.

“Decisions about education, roads and transport, activities for teenagers, care of the elderly and vulnerable and waste disposal are all the responsibility of your local councillors.

“If you haven’t already voted by post, I’d encourage local people to take 10 minutes out of their busy schedules to visit a polling station today to cast their vote.”

Candidates standing to be Members of Parliament for our local constituencies are:
Telford Constituency
- Lucy Allan (Conservatives)
- Denis Allen (Ukip)
- Ian Phillip Croll (Liberal Democrats)
- Peter Robert Hawkins (Green Party)
- David Wright (Labour)

Wrekin Constituency
- Cath Edwards (Green Party)
- Katrina Gilman (Labour)
- Rod Keyes (Liberal Democrats)
- Mark Andrew Pritchard (Conservatives)
- Jill Seymour (Ukip)

Shrewsbury & Atcham Constituency
- Emma Catherine Mary Bullard (Green Party)
- Laura Louisa Davies (Labour)
- Suzanne Elizabeth Evans (Ukip)
- Daniel Robert Kawczynski (Conservatives)
- Stirling McDonald McNeillie (Children of the Atom)
- Christine Mary Tinker (Liberal Democrats)

North Shropshire Constituency
- Andrea Christabel Allen (Ukip)
- Graeme Roger Currie (Labour)
- Duncan Kerr (Green Party)
- Owen William Paterson (Conservative)
- Tom Thornhill (Liberal Democrats)

Ludlow Constituency
- Charlotte Ann Barnes (Liberal Democrats)
- Philip Martin Dunne (Conservatives)
- David Joseph Kelly (Ukip)
- Janet Helen Phillips (Green Party)
- Simon Clive Slater (Labour)

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm this evening.

Although it is not necessary, it always helps to take your polling card to the polling station. Some voters may find that their polling station location has changed and they should check their polling cards for this information.