Residents asked for their views on plans for council wards shake-up

RESIDENTS of Charnwood are being asked for their views on proposals for new boundaries for the wards that make up the borough.

The ward map is being reviewed to ensure each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters and that ward arrangements help the council work effectively.

People are being urged to voice their opinions and raise any concerns with the Local Government Boundary Commission, the independent body that draws the boundaries.

The commission is proposing that there should be three single councillor wards, 14 two-councillor wards, and seven three-councillor wards.

The boundaries of 26 wards would change, including a single Loughborough Canal ward to replace the current Loughborough Hastings and Loughborough Lemyngton wards, and combining Wanlip village with the eastern side of Birstall.

Part of the Wanlip parish which lies to the north of the A46 would be incorporated with Rothley Brook ward, to ensure that the whole of the planned Broadnook Garden Village can form part of a single ward.

Anstey ward and Quorn & Mountsorrel Castle ward would stay the same.

Launching the consultation, professor Colin Mellors, chairman of the commission, said: “We want people in Charnwood to help us.

“We have drawn up proposals for new wards in Charnwood. We want to make sure these new electoral arrangements reflect communities.

“We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.

“Residents and local organisations can help us do that. We would like them to let us know whether they agree with our proposals before we take final decisions.”

The commission has a dedicated section on its website where people can see the detail of the proposals and comment on the names of wards and their boundaries.

A consultation on the proposals will run until November 8.

You can send in your views by email at reviews@lgbce.org.uk, or by post to: Review Officer (Charnwood), LG