Polls close for the West Sussex County Council elections

One voter who turned up to his Roffey polling station to cast his ballot first thing this morning said the place was empty and added: “Whatever happens I do not think it will make a difference.”

Meanwhile one Henfield resident maintained that it was ‘vital to vote’ if people wanted to criticise their politicians.

Going into today’s elections, there were 47 Conservative members, 18 Liberal Democrats, three Labour, one UK Independence Party and two Independents.

In the Horsham district there are 12 seats, held by seven Conservatives and five Liberal Democrats (see the map). The County Times also covers a small part of the Petworth division in the Chichester District, which is held by the Conservative Party.

Following national and local disillusionment among Conservatives, UKIP is hoping to make big gains in West Sussex.

Votes will be counted from 9am tomorrow and the County Times will be bringing you all the news from the Horsham district count in Christ’s Hospital tomorrow.

For extensive coverage and reaction see next week’s County Times.