Surprise as Vale deputy votes against parish polling wishes

There was strong support in the parish for using the Vale Douzaine Room – seen by many as the traditional polling station – after the States recommended using Rue Mainguy instead, despite its poorer access.

The attempt was to make the douzaine room a parish-only station and not one of the so-called super-stations open to any voter in the island, which was what the States Assembly & Constitution Committee (SACC) wanted but the douzaine was against.

The move to get the douzaine room reinstated was led by Deputy Chris Le Tissier, who lives in the Vale, following calls for the change made at the recent parish meeting.

He contacted Senior Constable Richard Leale yesterday to apologise for failing to change the proposals – his amendment was defeated by 26 votes to 10.

"There was plenty of misinformation from SACC [which is in charge of the election process]," said Deputy Le Tissier, who added that by doing so president Carl Meerveld convinced those who were initially supportive to vote against.

Solidarity
Fellow Vale deputy Liam McKenna supported the attempt to reinstate which, as a member of SACC, meant he voted against his own committee in solidarity with parish wishes.

However, Deputy Neil Inder, also a Vale resident, voted against, which surprised Deputy Le Tissier and others.

Mary Lowe, a former Vale deputy, was in the States Chamber when it happened. "Deputy Inder voting against his own parish wishes will disappoint and annoy many," she said afterwards. 

"Really sorry the majority of States members haven't listened to Vale parishioners and the Douzaine. These are the same people who will hope the Vale electorate vote for them next June!"

• The names of those who voted for or against the proposition can be found here