Hulme casts doubt over polling date

A SADDLEWORTH campaigner has questioned whether Oldham Council will be able to organise the by-election for January 13.

Labour were furious that the Lib-Dems moved a writ to hold the hotly-contested poll early, raising suspicions it was designed to leave them with little time to campaign and deter students on their holidays from voting against the Lib-Dems over tuition fees.

Now, Independent parish councillor Ken Hulme has questioned if it gives the council enough time.

He said: “Can Oldham Council really organise a proper election in the limited time available and with what in many parts of the constituency is Arctic conditions leaving lanes blocked and many people snow-bound and unable to leave their homes.

“From December 24 to January 4, 2011, Oldham Council will be effectively shut down — apart from emergency services.

So how will all the complaints and queries about the election — postal votes, voting eligibility, be handled?

“Staff and casual workers will have made holiday arrangements which at this late stage may be difficult to change.

“It’s an organisational nightmare. For once I feel sorry for senior council staff trying to cope with this.

“The basic administrative tasks of getting polling cards out and processing postal voting applications simply may not be possible as Royal Mail hits problems in maintaining any sort of service and the hand-delivery of polling cards becomes impossible in some outlying areas — unless a helicopter is used!”

A council source acknowledged the time-scale was tight but said arrangements are in hand.