A MOVE to stop Bromsgrove schools from being turned into polling stations has secured cross-party backing.

Worcestershire County Council councillors backed a motion calling for the practice to be abandoned after concerns it was disrupting children's education.

It means all election returning officers at district councils in the county will be recommended to shelve schools being used as a polling station.

Yet it will be down to Bromsgrove District Council to decide whether those recommendations are implemented at the four schools affected in Bromsgrove.

Beacon councillor Peter McDonald, who is Labour group leader, was one of those who campaigned for the switch at a full council meeting.

At the meeting on Thursday, May 25, he said: “What really reeks of double standards is that parents are fined for taking their kids out of school.

“In just five weeks (due to May’s local elections and the General Election) children will have lost two days’ schooling, which they cannot make up.

“It cannot be beyond the scope of this council to find alternatives, given the disruption it causes.”

Of the 376 county polling stations used in local elections, 25 were in schools - just 6.6 per cent - four of which are in Bromsgrove.

The schools used as polling stations in Bromsgrove are Finstall First School on Carnforth Road, Bromsgrove; Holywell Primary School on School Road, Rubery; Lickey End First School on School Lane, Lickey End; and Broadmeadow Junior School on Monyhull Hall Road, Birmingham.

One headteacher told councillors they “dread” having to close and that “two and three-day weeks do not have the same levels of productivity”.

In a note read to council by councillor Pattie Hill, the headteacher added: “It astounds me that schools have to be used as polling stations, the education of 500 children is disrupted.”

All the district council returning officers will now be sent a note, expressing the view of County Hall's councillors.

It will ask them to find alternatives where possible.

A Bromsgrove council spokesman added: “There are four schools which are used as polling stations during elections and one of those is used jointly with Birmingham City Council.

“We review our polling stations regularly and will bear in mind these views from the County Council during the next review which will be after the pending election.

“However the final decision will be made by council.”