Residents at Leamington retirement developments raise election canvassing issue

Residents at retirement developments in Leamington have raised concerns that political representatives wanting to canvas in the run up to the Warwick District and Leamington Town Council elections were turned away at reception.

The representatives were turned away at both Audley Binswood and Arlington Lodge.

The two companies which own and run the two sites have both responded to the concerns citing safety and security reasons for not allowing the canvassing to take place.

But those living at the sites are unhappy that they were not allowed to speak to the representatives and to be fully informed about groups’ candidates and policies before voting took place last week.

Marianne Pitts, who lives at Audley Binswood, said: “Prompted by [fellow resident] Beatrice Clarke I asked the manager of Audley Binswood about the absence of any political leaflets for the elections on May 4.

"I was later told that the Labour Party had tried to deliver such material and had been rebuffed and I queried the assurance I had been given that this was not the case.