Response to proposed ward boundary changes from West and Green Party

Handbridge Park/

The argument for combining these wards to create a new 3 councillor ward has been proposed by the Conservative group on the council and supported by individual submissions from the current Handbridge Park councillors and 6 residents. The commission has accepted this proposal on the grounds that there is little to differentiate Lache and parts of .

The outer areas of Lache do have similarities with Handbridge Park. However, the large central area of Lache is very different. The suggestion by a councillor and some residents that the differences are no longer significant due to a reduction in social housing across the ward are contradicted by evidence from the council’s own website.

The Lache ward snapshot provides clear evidence of the continuing existence of very significant and specific challenges in the ward. The residents in the central area of Lache may become a minority group whose needs may be overlooked in a larger Overleigh ward.

Our suggestion therefore is not to join the Handbridge Park and Lache wards because of differences in community character, and needs of residents.

Boughton Heath/ Chester City

The proposed boundary between these areas cuts right through the parade of local shops and small businesses along the A41.

This will create difficulties for the business community ‐ there is a local association of shopkeepers – as they will be split between two wards.

Moving the boundary further east along Christleton Road to the cricket ground would retain the integrity of the business area and improve the electoral variance of Boughton Heath which, currently stands at 17%, and by 2023 is projected to be only just under to 10% limit at 9%

Garden Quarter

The Commission states that one of the three key factors for determining ward boundaries is the need to respect community identity.

Garden Quarter is the only one of the current Cheshire West and Chester wards in which a wide range of residents’ groups, reflecting interests across the whole ward, have come together to produce a detailed document that not only describes communal activities and projects in the ward but also plans for future development.

This strong evidence of community cohesion appears to be treated as secondary to the interests of maintaining electoral variance.

Garden Quarter is an example of exactly the kind of ‘Thriving Community’ the council is seeking to promote as one of its key targets and yet the proposal is to divide it up between Chester City and Blacon, where the case for any commonality is unconvincing. Boundaries should be established along community lines. Including part of the Garden Quarter in Blacon dilutes the character of Blacon, and does not benefit those in the Garden Quarter.

Upton

Communities should be respected. Placing part of Upton in the adjacent ward is problematic as it has no synergy with Puddington, and the whole of Upton should be one ward. Numbers can be rebalanced by moving Puddington to its natural neighbour Parkgate.

Marbury

Given the importance of geographical and community cohesion, long thin wards should be avoided; Sutton Weaver has little in common with Higher Wincham. Similarly with proposals for Ledsham and Manor, surrounding wards can be redrawn to prevent the creation of long wards that do not respond to the benefits of community character.

Tattenhall

Communities must be respected. Dividing Fullers Moore in two is illogical. The boundary can be set without this division.

Gowy / Kingsley

The boundary proposal for the new Manley ward, which is predominantly made up of the existing Gowy ward, will include the village of Kingsley. Under this proposal Kingsley will fall into a different electoral ward from the villages of Crowton and Norley, which are currently in the Kingsley ward. Kingsley, Crowton and Norley are both geographically close and have close community ties, through affiliated churches and links between primary schools. The need to balance the number of voters should not outweigh other considerations, including the connection of close communities.

Possible Impact of Multi Councillor Wards

The proposed changes favour larger wards with 2 or more councillors. A case has been made for suggesting that this benefits the residents should a councillor be absent for any reason. However, as in the examples listed above, the splitting and merging of wards can in some instances make it difficult for residents to find a voice for the interests of their distinctive community. Large wards may also reduce diversity of choice for residents as it is difficult for the smaller parties to gain representation in large wards.

Three councillor wards can result in up to 18 candidates on the ballot paper, which leads to confusion and spurious voting. Notably, candidates at the top of the paper are disproportionately chosen in favour of those at the bottom.