Rutland County Council is taking steps to ensure postal ballot papers reach voters in the Langham Neighbourhood Plan Referendum, following delays caused by Royal Mail strike action.

A referendum to decide if the Langham Neighbourhood Plan should be adopted is scheduled to take place on Thursday 15 December 2022. Postal ballot packs for the referendum were issued to all registered postal voters in the Langham area on Friday 2 December. To date, the Council does not believe any have arrived.

In response, the Council is producing duplicate ballot papers and delivering these by hand on Monday 12 December, which may result in postal voters receiving two packs. Both packs will be identical. Voters are asked to return one pack and destroy the other. Digital markings on postal ballot envelopes make it impossible to vote twice in an election, even if you receive more than one ballot paper.

Due to further planned strike action on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 December, electors are strongly advised to return any postal votes by hand. Postal votes can be hand-delivered to Rutland County Council's Catmose offices in Oakham up to 10.00pm on polling day (Thursday 15 December), using the exterior post box next to the Council's main staff entrance. Alternatively, they can be delivered by hand to the polling station at Langham Village Hall on Church Street between 7.00am and 10.00pm on polling day.

Mark Andrews, Returning Officer for Rutland County Council, said: "We've previously warned postal voters about the risk of possible delays caused by Royal Mail strike action. Unfortunately, the strikes have stopped postal ballot packs from reaching electors when they should have. We are already in the process of producing duplicate postal ballots for those who are affected and will be delivering these ourselves to avoid further delays. We cannot guarantee that completed postal ballots will reach us on time if they are returned in the mail. We therefore recommend voters hand their ballot papers in at the Council offices, or at Langham Village Hall polling station on polling day itself."

Further information about the Langham Neighbourhood Plan Referendum can be found on the Rutland County Council website. Alternatively, please email: [email protected].