Protests over boundary changes spark rethink
CONTROVERSIAL plans to alter East Renfrewshire’s political boundaries have been reshaped.
There was significant opposition when Boundaries Scotland published provisional constituency proposals for future Holyrood elections in May last year.
The plans would have seen Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor being joined in a revised Renfrewshire South constituency by Newton Mearns, Waterfoot, Eaglesham, Kilbarchan, Lochwinnoch, Howwood and an area of south-west Paisley.
There were also proposals for Giffnock, Thornliebank, Clarkston and Busby to become part of a new constituency, along with neighbouring Carnwadric, Kennishead and Priesthill.
It was to be called Glasgow Priesthill and Giffnock and replace the traditional Eastwood seat.
However, following a monthlong public consultation staged last year and subsequent local inquiry hearings in December, Boundaries Scotland has now published revised proposals.
These would see a new Renfrewshire West constituency made up of the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor council ward in East Renfrewshire, along with the Johnstone South and Elderslie; Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch; Linwood, Houston and Crosslee; and Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank wards of neighbouring Renfrewshire.
Meanwhile, the Eastwood constituency is set to be retained but with a different geographical boundary that would add Neilston to the seat.
The Newton Mearns North and Neilston ward which is currently split for Holyrood elections would all be part of Eastwood under the revised plans.
Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw, who strongly opposed the original proposals, has welcomed the fact his constituency no longer faces being dismantled.
Mr Carlaw, of the Scottish Conservatives, told the Barrhead News: “I am both relieved and delighted that Boundaries Scotland have revisited the initial plans to abolish Eastwood.
“The amended constituency proposals accept Eastwood’s legitimacy as a distinct geographical boundary and that our communities belong together as part of the same parliamentary seat.
“I want to thank all local residents who made this outcome possible by taking part in the previous public consultation and voicing robust opposition to the plans to dismantle Eastwood.
“It is also important to recognise the major contribution of East Renfrewshire Council in securing a reversal of the initial proposals and local authority officials delivered a truly superb presentation at the Newton Mearns inquiry hearing.”
There will now be a further month-long public consultation on the revised constituency boundaries.
Mr Carlaw said: “There is a clear logic to Neilston’s inclusion within the constituency and it moves Eastwood’s voting population closer to the key electoral quota benchmark for devising first-past-the-post parliamentary seats.
“It is absolutely vital that the initial plans to discard Eastwood remain firmly in the dustbin and the previous proposals to dismantle the constituency must not be allowed to resurface.”