HM Government plans to reduce the number of MPs in the UK from 650 to 600. This will involve big changes to parliamentary constituencies. The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) proposes a list of changes to the boundaries of Poole, which are now open for public consultation.
All Dorset MPs and Conservative Associations object to the proposed changes. It is important that all of us in Dorset let the BCE know our concerns.
Action plan to change the current proposal:
- To object to the 2016 list of changesand instead adopt something like the 2013 changes.
- The Conservative group in Council will petition the BCE against the current proposal.
- We in the Poole Conservative Association (PCA) ask our members to do the same.
- We encourage Councillors, party members and members of the public to write individually to the BCE.
- We offer you our help and guidance to make the best of our opportunity to revert to the 2013 changes.
BCE 2013 Proposals
(Appendix 1)
- Broadly respects existing established boundaries
- The proposed changes are minimised
- Reflects a sympathy for local preferences
- Leaves Broadstone in Mid Dorset, which respects its borders, culture and deomgraphy
- Gives Merley and Bearwood to Bournemouth West, where there are natural links with adjacent wards
- Respects natural boundaries
BCE 2016 Proposals
(Appendix 2)
- Broadstone, Ferndown and Kinson (BFK) constituency provides a bad mixture of rural and urban conurbation
- Creekmoor is very pro Poole and does not want to be in MDNP or Mid Dorset (see BCE report 2013/4)
- Does not respect existing boundaries
- The proposed changes are considerable
- Breaks the natural road borders in most areas
Poole Council has passed a motion objecting to the BCE 2016 proposals (Appendix 3).
We urge you to:
1 Write to the Boundary Commission for England and make your views clear.
You can do so either by filling in the online form at the BCE website: www.bce2018.org.uk
or by sending a letter to:
Boundary Commission for England
35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ2 Contact PCA chairman Cllr Peter Adams, who will be happy to discuss the proposals with you
by phone - 01202 742344
or by email - [email protected]
Appendix 1
2013 proposals recommended for support
Poole
Borough Council / Parliamentary constituency
Canford Cliffs
Canford Heath East
Canford Heath West
Creekmoor
Hamworthy East
Hamworthy West
Newtown
Oakdale
Parkstone
Penn Hill
Poole Town
Bournemouth West and Bourne Valley
Borough Council / Parliamentary constituency
Central Bournemouth
Kinson North
Kinson South
Redhill and Northbourne
Talbot and Branksome Woods
Wallisdown and Winton West
Westbourne and West Cliff
Alderney
Branksome East
Branksome West
Merley and Bearwood
Mid Dorset
County Council / Parliamentary constituency
Alderholt East
Colehill East
Colehill West
Corfe Mullen Central
Corfe Mullen North
Corfe Mullen South
Crane
Handley Vale
Holt
Stapehill
Stour
Wimborne Minster
Abbey
Blandford Damory Down
Blandford Hilltop
Blandford Langton St Leonards
Blandford Old Town
Blandford Station
Bulbarrow
Cranborne Chase
Hill Forts
Portman
Riversdale
The Lower Tarrants
Broadstone
Bere Regis
Lytchett Matravers
Lytchett Minster and Upton East
Lytchett Minster and Upton West
Appendix 2
2016 proposals not recommended
Broadstone, Ferndown and Kinson
Borough Council / Parliamentary constituency
Kinson North
Kinson South
Redhill and Northbourne
Ameysford
Ferndown Central
Hampreston & Longham
Parley
Broadstone
Canford Heath East
Canford Heath West
Creekmoor
Merley & Bearwood
Poole
Borough Council / Parliamentary constituency
Alderney
Branksome East
Branksome West
Canford Cliffs
Hamworthy East
Hamworthy West
Newtown
Oakdale
Parkstone
Penn Hill
Poole Town
Bournemouth North and Christchurch
Borough Council / Parliamentary constituency
Moordown
Strouden Park
Throop and Muscliff
Wallisdown and Winton West
Winton East
Burton and Winkton
Grange
Highcliffe
Jumpers
Mudeford and Friars Cliff
North Highcliffe and Walkford
Portfield
Purewell and Stanpit
St. Catherine’s and Hurn
Town Centre
West Highcliffe
Bournemouth South
Borough Council / Parliamentary constituency
Boscombe East
Boscombe West
Central Ward
East Cliff and Springbourne
East Southbourne and Tuckton
Littledown and Iford
Queen’s Park
Talbot and Branksome Woods
Westbourne and West Cliff
West Southbourne
Appendix 3
At its meeting on 15 November, Poole Council passed the following motion:
We object to the current Boundary Commission for England proposals of 2016 regarding the parliamentary constituency of Poole. It does not follow natural or traditional borders and creates unwieldy areas with limited demographic, community and cultural affinity.
We note with concern that the Creekmoor ward in Poole is transferred to the Broadstone, Ferndown and Kinson constituency, and the Alderney and Branksome West wards are transferred to the Poole constituency. Creekmoor clearly expressed its wish to remain part of Poole during the recent ward balancing exercise and still is strongly supportive of this stance. Alderney and Branksome East fit well into the existing constituency of Bournemouth West.
The splitting of Bournemouth into North and South constituencies instead of East and West creates boundaries that do not follow natural borders between parts of the conurbation.
The inclusion of the two Canford Heath wards in the proposed Broadstone, Ferndown and Kinson constituency does not reflect a natural affinity, as they are much closer in demography and culture to the adjoining Poole wards of Creekmoor and Oakdale.
We on Poole Council strongly recommend a return to the revised borders as proposed in the 2013 BCE proposals.