A correspondent in the local newspaper gushes thus:
As a politics graduate of old, I would like to express delight at the hugely increased ward turnout to nearly 50% from 34% (2008) in support of all the candidates for the new Rusthall Parish Council.
Hmm.
Whilst the turnout for the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council election for Rusthall is recorded as 49.62%, the percentage for the parish council election is recorded as 47.83%.
The percentages for the wards in the borough elections are as follow:
2008 2011
Benenden and Cranbrook 38.65 47.18
Brenchley and Horsmonden 42.35 50.36
Culverden 31.50 42.38
Goudhurst and Lamberhurst 37.90 51.03
Hawkhurst and Sandhurst 37.19 46.79
Park 34.38 46.33
Pembury 40.06 48.54
Rusthall 34.27 49.62
Sherwood 28.93 35.38
Southborough East and High Brooms 31.91 37.92
Speldhurst and Bidborough 40.37 53.69
St John's 35.81 44.02
Increased turnout in every ward. The reason being advanced for the increase is that people turned out to vote in the AV referendum. Whilst there was undoubtedly a parish election factor in the increased turnout in Rusthall, voting in other wards suggests that other factors also were in play.
In wards where it is possible to make comparisons, the percentage vote in the parish election was higher than the borough ward election - except in Rusthall.
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