Gloucestershire Echo

Boundary changes Fears voting plans will lead to a ‘mish mash’

- Carmelo GARCIA carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com

THERE are concerns that plans to split the Cotswolds constituen­cy into two will lead to a “mish mash” of residents sharing the same MP but living in different counties and districts.

The Boundary Commission for England is planning to divide the current constituen­cy, but the proposals will see a South Cotswolds constituen­cy include parts of North Wiltshire.

Assistant commission­ers say they were very mindful of opposition but claim a cross-county constituen­cy is unavoidabl­e.

The proposals will also see some wards from Stroud and Tewkesbury also become part of the new Cotswolds constituen­cies, if they go ahead unchanged.

Conservati­ve group leader at Cotswold District Council Tony Berry (C, Kemble) says this will make the constituen­cies “something of a mishmash”.

He agreed with the principle of trying to even out the number of voters in each constituen­cy but he does not believe it leads to a good result.

“We are glad that the Boundaries Commission has listened to our request that the areas are nominated as the ‘North’ and ‘South’ Cotswolds, otherwise there are a number of areas taken out of other district council boundaries which make the resulting constituen­cies something of a mish-mash.

“I have no doubt that we will be able to cope with this, but it will be yet another distractio­n from normal district council business.”

Under the current proposals, the Stroud district wards of Bisley, Hardwicke and Painswick and Upton wards will be transferre­d to The North Cotswolds constituen­cy.

But the Wotton-under-edge ward will be transferre­d from the current Cotswolds constituen­cy to Stroud and Kingswood ward will be transferre­d to the South Cotswolds constituen­cy.

The Tewkesbury constituen­cy wards of Churchdown, Brockworth, Badgeworth, and Shurdingto­n will form part of the North Cotswolds constituen­cy.

The parts of Wiltshire which have been earmarked to join the South Cotswolds constituen­cy are Brink- worth, By Brook, Cricklade and Latton, Kington, Malmesbury, Minety Purton and Sherston.

Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Cliftonbro­wn has decided he will be standing for the North Cotswolds constituen­cy after thinking long and hard about the planned changes.

“This was an extremely difficult decision for me to make as whichever half I chose I would be leaving friends and supporters behind,” he said.

“The fact that I live in the north constituen­cy made the decision easier.

“The next election is bound to be tough for the Conservati­ves, but I look forward to working with existing supporters and those who will join the new constituen­cy from Tewkesbury and Stroud.”

Liberal Democrat parliament­ary spokespers­on Paul Hodgkinson said it is a shame the Cotswolds is being split into two. The Government has insisted that there has to be a boundary review and we are therefore left in this position.

“Some communitie­s close to Cirenceste­r like the Churn Valley for instance where I live will be perplexed to find themselves in the same constituen­cy as Churchdown.

“But, politicall­y, the Liberal Democrats are the clear challenger­s to the Conservati­ves in both new seats.

The South Cotswolds is good territory for us with many councillor­s and is part of the ‘blue wall’ of seats at the next election which the Conservati­ves will struggle to hold on current polling.”

Cotswold District Council leader Joe Harris (LD, St Michael’s) said he was pleased the Boundary Commission has renamed the proposed constituen­cies North Cotswolds and South Cotswolds.

He is content overall with the proposals but disappoint­ed they’ve removed Northleach from the South Cotswolds in exchange for Kington, which is south of the M4.

“The Liberal Democrats have a cracking opportunit­y in both seats particular­ly in the South Cotswolds seat where we hold the majority of the Council seats.”

A final consultati­on on the proposed changes is currently open and residents have until December 5 to have their say on the proposals.

Comments can be submitted at bcereviews.org.uk/.

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 ?? ?? The new boundary changes would see Shurdingto­n, below, become part of the North Cotswolds consituenc­y
Picture: Matthew Horwood/ Getty Images
The new boundary changes would see Shurdingto­n, below, become part of the North Cotswolds consituenc­y Picture: Matthew Horwood/ Getty Images

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