Posted on: Wednesday 4 May 2022
Ashley Stephens (left) & Porscha Hilton (right)
The Unicorn Inn in Pontypool will become the first pub in Torfaen to host a polling station, as part of this year's #Torfaenlocalelections2022.
Voters head to the polls this Thursday to elect 40 county borough councillors in Torfaen, with four Community Council Elections also being contested on the day.
More than 550 residents from the Pontypool Fawr ward will be eligible to cast their vote at the Unicorn Inn on polling day.
Landlady at the Unicorn, Porscha Hilton, said: "We are delighted to be the very first pub in Torfaen to be hosting the polling station, we feel it's a great thing to offer our community.
"We have lots of onsite parking and have recently refurbished the garden area to improve access and make it easier for people with disabilities to turn up and cast their vote.
"As well as having the polling station running we will be operating our business as normal, serving food and drinks all day."
Polling opens from 7am on Thursday 5 May and will close at 10pm. No one will be able to cast their vote after this time.
Torfaen Council Elections Manager, Caroline Genever-Jones, said: “Election day will mark an historic occasion for voters here in Torfaen and across Wales, with it being the first time anyone over the age of 16 or qualifying foreign nationals, can vote in local council elections.
"To add to that, we're also delighted to be bringing our first pub onboard as a polling station, to which we hope may draw in more voters due to its location and appeal.
"For postal voters that might have missed the post, they are still able to drop off their postal ballot paper at any polling station across the borough, before 10pm tomorrow evening."
You can find further information about the election, including candidates and polling station locations, by visiting the council’s website at www.torfaen.gov.uk