Four wards axed in proposed shake-up of borough electoral boundaries
CHANGES have been proposed to the electoral boundaries of Charnwood borough.
The Local Government Boundary Commission has made the proposals which would see the number of councillors retained at 52.
However, the number of wards would decrease by four. The changes would take effect in 2023.
In its final recommendations for changes to Charnwood Borough Council, the Commission recommends that residents should be represented by 52 councillors.
This is the arrangements.
There would be 24 wards; five single-councillor wards, 10 two-councillor wards, and nine three-councillor wards. This is four fewer wards than there are now.
The boundaries of all but two of the wards would change.
Publishing the recommendations, Commission chairman Professor Colin Mellors said: “We are very grateful to people in Charnwood. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals.
“We believe the new arrangements same as the current will guarantee electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”
In all, 150 submissions from residents and organisations helped decide the new wards.
Changes in response public said include:
■ Establishing a three-councillor ward for the whole of Thurmaston village’s built-up area;
■ Changing recommendations for west Loughborough to provide singlecouncillor Loughborough Nanpantan and Loughborough Woodthorpe wards;
■ Three-councillor wards for Dishley, Hathern and Thorpe Acre, Loughborough to what the
Ashby and Loughborough Outwoods and Shelthorpe.
The Commission has made further changes to earlier proposals. Details can be found on its website, below.
A Commission spokesman said: “The commission has reviewed Charnwood to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively.”
Parliament now needs to agree the changes in time for the 2023 council elections.