Council’s ward boundaries set to change after review

Significant changes to Mid Sussex District Council’s ward boundaries are set to be made following an independent review.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is proposing to reduce the number of councillors from 54 to 48 – a reduction of six.

This would lead to the significant redrawing of ward boundaries, with only Burgess Hill St Andrews, Copthorne & Worth and Hassocks staying exactly the same.

There would be 27 wards in total, one more than the current arrangements. The 48 councillors would represent one three-councillor ward, 19 two-councillor wards and seven one-councillor wards.

The LGBCE’s final recommendations were published on Tuesday (February 1) and follow a previous round of consultation last summer proposals.

Changes to the draft proposals, in response to what local people and representatives said include: the creation of two wards to replace the draft proposal of a three-councillor Burgess on draft

Meeds and Victoria ward, the creation of two wards to replace the draft proposal of a three-councillor East Grinstead Baldwins & Imberhorne ward and the inclusion of Twineham parish in Downland Villages ward.

Colin Mellors, chair of the commission, said: “We are very grateful to people in Mid Sussex. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals. “We believe the new arrangements will guarantee electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”