Every once in a while a government commission looks at the ward boundaries in each council area to make sure that everyone is being fairly represented. For example, areas where there has been new housing might merit having an extra councillor, which might mean an area somewhere else might lose one. At the moment the? Local Government Boundary Commission is looking at our district.
It’s already been agreed that we will stick with 39 councillors. The commission are also keen on having 3 councillors per ward, which means having 13 big wards. The District Council has come up with some proposals . They are actually suggesting 14 wards – 12 big wards with 3 councillors each, plus a “Roche North” ward with two councillors and a “Roche South” ward with one.
If you double click on this new map, you will see the new wards (though because of the small scale of the map it’s not completely accurate):
Looking at two wards in particular:
Hullbridge Ward stays exactly as it is now – same boundaries, and still with 3 Councillors.
Downhall and Rawreth Ward goes from 2 councillors to 3. It has to get bigger, but not that much bigger. The new Downhall and Rawreth Ward will include all the roads it does now, but with two expansions.
The first expansion is slightly southwards along Down Hall Road, taking in Preston Gardens, Hedgehope Avenue, Downhall Close and that bit of Downhall Road between Preston Gardens and Downhall Close:
The second expansion? is to take in part of Sweyne Park ward that is closest to Rawreth – double click on this map to see more:
This includes :
- The north side of London Road as far as the junction with Victoria Avenue.
- The western side of Victoria Avenue, up to the junction with Cheapside West..
- The western half of Cheapside West
- Maine Crescent
- Sweyne Close
- Fairmead
- Boston Avenue
- Grosvenor Road
- Gunn Close
- The new development at the old Eon site.
The new ward will also include all the proposed housing “North of London Road”, because if it is approved, it is all in Rawreth.
These new wards still have to be approved by the commision, so there might be some changes. If approved , there will be elections in all the new wards in 2016.
I’m really looking forward to having some of the roads that used to be in Downhall Ward until 2002 being back in Downhall and Rawreth, and I’ve always enjoyed canvassing in places like Grosvenor Road and Cheapside West.
So does that mean the whole Council will be up for election in 2016?
Yes, almost certainly. (But not parish councils)
Any reason not to include all the houses to the west of Victoria Ave, rather than stop at Cheapside West?
Ian, It’s about getting the number of residents shared out fairly equally
Hartford Close is not mentioned! It is one of the reasons I asked repeatedly for a new road sign. A larger & much clearer new sign has been erected in the last few days, (thanks very much to those responsible).
Hopefully we won’t get forgotten in the future, & visitors, delivery persons etc won’t get lost!
Apologies for that Janet – as you can see , the names’s not shown on the Electoral commission map. I thought I might have missed out somewhere!