PEOPLE intending to use a postal vote in the upcoming Laverstock and Ford Neighbourhood Plan Referendum are being urged to make sure they post their ballots in time as Royal Mail strike action looms.

The referendum is due to take place on October 13.

However, members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) – including Royal Mail workers who collect, sort, and deliver parcels and letters – are set to walk out on that day, meaning no postal votes will be delivered.

To avoid missing out, those who wish to vote in the referendum and haven’t done so already, are strongly advised to send any postal votes back as soon as possible, or hand deliver them to the polling stations on polling day by 10pm.

The polling stations are:

• Hampton Park Paviliian (Community Centre, Ash Crescent, SP1 3GY
• Laverstock & Ford Sports Club, 23 Church Road, Laverstock, SP1 1QX
• Old Sarum Community Centre (opposite school), Pheasant Drive, SP4 6GH

Terence Herbert, counting officer for Wiltshire, said: “It’s vital that we have a strong, functioning democratic process and we want to ensure residents have their vote counted in the upcoming referendum.

“Therefore, I strongly advise anyone who is planning to vote to get their postal votes back in plenty of time to avoid any issues.

“Polls will close at 10pm on the day of the referendum so people can also hand deliver their postal votes at the designated polling stations on that day and they will be counted.

“We hope this doesn’t cause too much inconvenience for residents.”