DURHAM was going to the polls today in the traditional manner to elect members of the city council.
While the city's electors are having to visit polling stations, people in neighbouring areas can vote from home.
Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, Wear Valley and Sedgefield are holding postal ballots in a drive to increase the traditionally low turnout for council elections. The signs are that it is working as Derwentside estimated that, as of Tuesday, it had a 47 per cent turnout.
Durham City Council is currently Labour controlled. The 50 seats will be contested by 50 Liberal Democrat candidates, 42 Labour, 11 Independents, seven Tories and five from a new party, The Durham Taxpayers Alliance.
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