Village now desperate to remain part of Moorlands – not join city
New proposals would impact Checkley
PLANS to place part of the south of the Staffordshire Moorlands into the Parliamentary seat of Stoke South have been met with anger.
The Boundary Commission has proposed that the Parliamentary seat of Stoke South should incorporate the Staffordshire Moorlands wards of Checkley and Forsbrook.
At the last full meeting of Staffordshire Moorland District Council, Checkley ward councillor Peter Wilkinson asked for support of the district council in opposing the proposal.
In a written question to the council leader, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, Mr Wilkinson said: “The proposed new boundary changes would mean that Checkley and Forsbrook will be in Stoke-on-trent South.
“Will the leader support these two wards’ desire to become part of the Staffordshire Moorlands constituency in line with the district boundary and with the same MP?”
In a written reply, Councillor Ralphs, said: “As you will be aware all councillors have been notified of the 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries issued by the Boundary Commission for England.
“I would encourage individual councillors and interested parties to consider these initial proposals in detail and to take part in the first of the three consultation exercises. I understand that the initial consultation phase will close on August 2, 2021.”
Speaking at the council meeting, Councillor Wilkinson, said they wanted support from the district council.
He said: “We are in the Staffordshire Moorlands, we have ties to Cheadle – Stoke-on-trent is more detached. We need to be in the district as we have historical ties with the Staffordshire Moorlands.
“We should be tied to the Staffordshire Moorlands at every level. This is all about the Staffordshire Moorlands, not Stoke.
“This is an opportunity to get us all in the Moorlands as we have massive ties with Cheadle.”
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Ralphs said: “It is not the responsibly of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to make representations. Councillors agree that we must make representations, but an alternative has to be acceptable to make a strong argument to the Boundary Commission.
“We did look forward when all the Staffordshire Moorlands boundary became part of the Parliamentary seat, but we have been taken aback by the Boundary Commission. We have an opportunity to put in an alternative proposal to the Boundary Commission.”
Meanwhile, MP Bill Cash has said it would be ‘an enormous wrench’ to lose places such as Cheadle that he has represented for more than 20 years.
The Staffordshire Moorlands seat would be expanded to include the wards around Cheadle, which are currently part of the Stone seat, meaning the constituency would be almost completely aligned with the borders of the district.
Sir Bill, who has represented the Stone constituency since 1997, said of the plans: “They are radical, there is no question. I have a 63 per cent majority at the moment, a very high percentage of the total votes.
“The bottom line is it would be an enormous wrench to lose places I’ve represented for so long.
“We don’t even know if these will take effect, it’s very much an initial proposal and I think people need to bear that in mind.
“It might not be what comes out of the discussions.
“What the consultation will produce and what the outcome will be I can’t guess.
“Other people’s views will be taken into account, this is very much an initial phase on the basis of a radical and very much unexpected chain of events.
“I’ve very much enjoyed being MP and had a great relationship with my constituents over the years.”
A consultation on the Boundary Commission’s initial proposals runs until August 2, with two further rounds of consultation planned for 2022.
The final recommendations are set to be presented to Parliament by July 2023.