What a close vote poll on an Alcohol Exclusion Zone! (updated)

It's been near neck and neck in the voting about the introduction of an Alcohol Exclusion Zone in Audlem – so much so that with the poll closing tonight, there's only one vote in it, and that's after the largest number of votes yet in an Audlem Online vote poll.

Indeed, it's the the sort of result that would have any politician calling for a recount and queries about 'hanging chads' in Florida's contribution to a Presidential Election. With the vote running at 154 'against' and 153 'for' the introduction of an Alcohol Exclusion Zone (and 4 Unsures), it couldn't be closer*. The poll will finish tonight and the result passed on to Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council and the police. If you haven't voted yet, and would like to, please do so now.

A new Vote Poll will start asking the question "Should dogs be kept on a lead on the canal towpath?"

This question arises from a consultation document by the local Borough Council, as reported on Audlem Online last week. Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council's Keith Davies and his colleague made a presentation to Audlem Parish Council on dog control measures which have been put out for consultation within the whole of the borough. Many of the proposals being put forward make good sense, like the need to exclude dogs from marked playing pitches and enclosed children's play areas. However, those at the meeting were concerned about the suggestion that dogs should be kept on the lead at all times on land owned by British Waterways ie the canal towpaths. This point is likely to be one of the most contentious aspects of the proposal and we expect this to be another keenly contested Vote Poll.

No other area locally has the facility to test opinion in this way so it's likely the Borough Council will take note of Audlem's views. Thank you to the many people who voted on the Alcohol Exclusion Zone proposal – it turns out that every single vote was an important one.

*When the vote closed, the result was still a lead of just one vote for the 'No's' – it was 156 against to 155 for the Alcohol Exclusion Zone with 4 voting 'Unsure'.

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