Rugby Conservative Association

Chairman: Michael Stokes Member of Parliament: Mark Pawsey

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England

Electronic Submission

23rd June 2014

Dear Sirs,

Reference: Electoral review for Warwickshire County

Please find enclosed the submission as made and agreed by Rugby Conservative Association with regards to the boundary changes in Rugby.

Yours,

Michael Stokes Chairman For & On Behalf of Rugby Conservative Association

Rugby Conservative Association Telephone: Email: Web:

Rugby

Rugby Borough reflects the diversity of Warwickshire particularly well, with a blend of urban and rural, affluence and relative deprivation. The Borough covers the town of Rugby together with 39 parishes. The population in 2011 was just in excess of 100,000 people.

Rugby Borough is in central Warwickshire, on the borders of the East and West Midlands. The Borough covers 35,558 hectares (around 88,000 acres) and incorporates many strategic road links. It also has excellent rail links, being on the West Coast Main Line.

Of the people in Rugby who are economically active, the majority are employed in the Borough. Rugby is also a net importer of employment. Manufacturing continues to remain important within the Borough, while the distribution and transport sectors account for one quarter of all employment. With a rural hinterland farming is important – this being one of the most important farming areas in Warwickshire, having approximately 500 farms and smallholdings.

The Borough-wide features of Rugby conceal a wide diversity of communities and community needs. Three of Rugby’s wards (Benn, Newbold and Brownsover) are identified as facing significant deprivation issues. Within the Borough there are other smaller pockets of deprivation.

In terms of the ethnic make-up of the local population these comprise a significant Indian population, but there are sizeable populations of Pakistani, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese and Portuguese families living locally.

There Conservative proposals for Rugby incorporate divisions that fall with the permitted electoral variance set by the Boundary Commission and coterminosity with district wards is 43.8%.

In relation to both proposals there would be a need for the parish of Cawston to be warded (a review is already underway by the Rugby Borough Council) and under these proposal Churchover parish would also need to be warded.

Conservative proposal

Rugby Borough will continue to, experience substantial housing growth. This review comes at a welcome time for Rugby as it allows for those new areas of development where planning permission has been approved to be incorporated into the Divisions to which they will inevitably hold the closest ties.

Legislation requires that recommendations proposed by the Boundary Commission reflect estimated changes in the number and distribution of electors likely to take place over a five- year period from the end of the review. Thus this consideration must be paramount when proposing new Division boundaries in Rugby Borough and have been intrinsically observed in these proposals.

It is illogical to place polling district KK2 into the present Division of Fosse as the growth in this area of the forthcoming BT Mast Site will have intrinsic transport, education and healthcare links with the current Rugby Borough ward of Hillmorton. It is for this reason that it is essential to incorporate KK2 into a new Hillmorton Division. Similarly it is an anomaly, which must be rectified, that polling district KJ2 and present polling districts DA, DB and DC presently fall within the Division boundaries of Fosse. The inclusion of DA, DB and DC into Fosse has always been inconsistent with natural community links in this area of the Borough. Residents of DA, DB and DC live in an urban area and share inherent links with neighbouring urban polling districts: they use the same amenities, schools and GP’s surgeries for example. Residents of KJ2 will send their children to schools within their neighbouring urban polling district areas and similarly residents in DA, DB and DC will send the children to the school in KJ2. KJ2 will have essential ties with polling districts DA, DB, DC, GC, DD and DE despite the separation of a main road and as such must be incorporated into a new Brownsover & Coton Division which will ensure essential co- terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards and community links.

R1 Fosse

Electorate 8503

Burton Hastings, Bramcote, Shelford, Smockington Ash Fell, Wolvey Heath Copston Magna, Wolvey, Shilton Fields, Shilton, Withybrook, Wibtoft, Willey, Little Wlton, Moors Kirby, Street Ashton, Pailton, Churchover, Newton, Newbold On Avon, Cathiron, Hungerfield, Easenhall, Stretton under Fosse, Brinklow, Wrautam, Ansty, Barnacle

The proposal for Fosse Ward is the most northern ward in the Borough. Its northern boundary is the A5 south of Hinckley and runs from just north of Stretton Baskerville to High Cross on the A5. Its western boundary runs from Stretton Baskerville, at its most northern point, it continues along the boundary of Rugby and Nuneaton and Bedworth until it meets the Coventry Road.

Fosse. The inclusion of DA, DB and DC into Fosse has always been inconsistent with natural community links in this area of the Borough. Residents of DA, DB and DC live in an urban area and share inherent links with neighbouring urban polling districts: they use the same amenities, schools and GP’s surgeries for example. Residents of KJ2 will send their children to schools within their neighbouring urban polling district areas and similarly residents in DA, DB and DC will send the children to the school in KJ2. KJ2 will have essential ties with polling districts DA, DB, DC, GC, DD and DE despite the separation of a main road and as such must be incorporated into a new Brownsover & Coton Division which will ensure essential co-terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards and community links.

Presently Fosse incorporates urban polling districts that share no ties with its predominantly rural areas. The polling districts KJ2, DA and DB have natural community links for a plethora of reasons with polling districts immediately to their south and thus must be placed into a new Division of Brownsover & Coton. The incorporation of the village of Newbold-on-Avon into Fosse is acceptable given its rural links and insulated amenities.

The villages of Barnacle, Wolvey and Shilton cover a large geographical area with a low population.The villages of Shilton and Wolvey have a direct connection via the B4065.

Shilton, Barnacle and Wolvey share a natural grouping through their Schools, Churches and social activities.

R2 Earl Craven

Electorate 8026

Binley Woods, Brandon, Bretford, Church Lawford, Long Lawford, King’s Newnham, Wolston

This area shares the characteristic of being largely greenbelt. This Division will incorporate Long Lawford which is presently split from its natural more rural neighbouring areas. Presently Long Lawford is adjoined to the Rugby Borough Council ward of New Bilton in the County Council electoral Division boundaries. This is illogical given the natural community links it has to the west of the Borough. Consideration of transport links has also been paramount as, for example, the no 86 bus service runs between Wolston (presently part of Earl Craven) and primarily serves Long Lawford also.

There are shared activities between King’s Newnham and Church Lawford through the long standing Church Fete at Church Lawford. There is a bi-annual raft race that runs on the River Avon between Church Lawford and Wolston.

Church Lawford and King’s Newnham are historically linked and although they form two parishes the day to day running of King’s Newnham falls to the Church Lawford Parish Council. It is also worthy of note that Church Lawford shares a vicar with Wolston and the children of these areas share the same schools.

Brandon and Wolston share a village hall. The skateboard park at the Community centre in Wolston is jointly funded by Brandon and Bretford, Wolston and Binley Woods Parish

Councils. There are two youth clubs held on different nights in Wolston and Binley Woods within walking distance between the villages.

The Church Lawford parish Councillors believe it is in the best interests of the local community if they are grouped with Wolston. The rationale is that the strong connection with children sharing the same schools and with the alignment of church congregations, strengthened by the fact that 2 churches share the same vicar

R3 Dunsmore & Leam Valley

Electorate 8139

The proposed Division of Dunsmore & Leam Valley will replace the present division of Dunchurch. It will incorporate Ryton on Dunsmore to provide natural co-terminosity with the present Rugby Borough Council ward of Dunsmore & Leam Valley, ensure the new division incorporates the correct number of electors and also will incorporate polling district KO, presently in the Division of Caldecott, which falls within the Rugby Borough Council ward of Dunsmore & Leam Valley.

The two largest villages within the division are Dunchurch and Ryton on Dunsmore, both of which are connected by the A45 that runs along much of the northern boundary. Other villages within the ward are easily accessed via B roads that radiate off from the A45. The residents of Ryton on Dunsmore, Stretton on Dunsmore and Dunchurch are well served by their own facilities and do not share the facilities of the other major villages as they each have their own schools, doctor’s surgeries, public houses, village halls, post offices, petrol stations, churches, recreation grounds and community groups.

Ryton on Dunsmore is a self-contained village with few ties or connections with other villages in Rugby. Although it sits on two major road routes this does not mean that there is good communication or public transport links between the villages. It has its own primary and junior school, Post office and Co-op shop along with a butchers and Chinese Takeaway. The major employers for the people of the village are to the west in Coventry. Very few use the limited bus service to get to their places of employment.

Access to medical facilities is non-existent within the Village and the primary doctor surgery is in Wolston. For those people who use the Wolston Surgery medication is available at the surgery that has a good dispensary. The Parish Council runs transport two times per week to take people to the doctors in Wolston and collect prescriptions that can then be collected from the Ryton Post Office. Ryton on Dunsmore also takes advantage of the library in Wolston and the sports and leisure facilities provided in the Wolston Community Centre.

The school at Ryton on Dunsmore serves both the Village and Bubbenhall. The older school attendees go to Leamington, Rugby and Coventry by school buses, there are a few that attend Princethorpe Private School, which are transported privately.

The main shopping town if public transport is used has to be Coventry, Leamington, and Rugby in that order, these are the destinations for the limited bus service. The Bus service runs primarily to Coventry and Rugby. .

R4 Admirals and Cawston

Electorate 7248

Bilton, New Bilton and Cawston

The proposed division would include small areas of Bilton and New Bilton. It is a largely residential area which sits between the Western Relief Road and the Bilton Road (B4642).

The present Admirals & Cawston Division is heavily under-represented. Areas around Cawston, however, will soon experience significant housing growth with 600 dwellings to be built at the Cawston Extension site and 250 dwellings to be built at the Cawston Lane site. The proposed new boundaries for this Division incorporate areas presently in the Division of Caldecott which have natural community links with areas in the Admirals area and provide co-terminosity with Rugby Borough Council wards. The natural road boundary between the present Admirals & Cawston Division and Caldecott Division has been incorporated creating a succinct Division in terms of geography, co-terminosity and community links particularly in terms of education provision.

R5 Bilton and Hillside

Electorate 7925

Bilton

The proposed ward’s westerly boundary runs parallel to Alwyn Road and includes Lime Tree Avenue. It then runs along the Bilton Road

In order to ensure a key principal objective of the Boundary Commission it is essential that single member Divisions are created in order to create fair and balanced representation for the elector and ensure accountability of the elected to the elector. These proposals maintain co-terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards whilst also incorporating areas presently within the Rugby Borough Council ward of Rokeby and Overslade which are naturally linked through communities, amenities, transport links and routes as well as education, healthcare and dental provisions with areas of the Rugby Borough Council ward of Bilton. This new Division was previously part of the present Division of Caldecott. The incorporation of polling district FG is logical given this polling districts inherent links with amenities within other polling districts within the new Division of Bilton & Hillside.

R6 Caldecott

Electorate 8438

This new single member division will ensure the co-terminosity of areas presently within the Rugby Borough Council ward of Rokeby & Overslade and areas of the Rugby Borough Council ward of Eastlands which hold natural community links. By incorporating polling districts FB, FC, FD and FF community links are maintained and similarly this is ensuring by incorporating some areas of the town centre and the area around the Hospital of St Cross.

R7 Benn and New Bilton

Electorate 8192

In the creation of a new single member Division of Benn & New Bilton essential community and amenity links have been observed. Co-terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards has been considered and incorporated. The present Division of Brownsover incorporates areas of Rugby town centre in an unreasoned manner. This new division will incorporate polling districts either side of the railway but residents in GE are as likely to use schools and amenities within polling districts BE, BG and BH as in polling districts incorporated into the new Division of Brownsover and Coton and also enjoy their own amenities presently. The argument for the incorporation of GE into a Division with areas in the Benn Rugby Borough Council ward is strong There is also the need to ensure that polling districts DA, DB, DC and KJ2 are incorporated into the same electoral Division due to the overwhelming community and amenity links these districts share.

R8 Coton and Brownsover

Electorate 8290

(South of) Churchover, Brownsover

This northern boundary of this division follows the A426, it includes the whole of the more densely populated Brownsover. The proposed boundary goes as far south as the Oxford Canal, then reaches northerly to the junction between Boughton Road and the A426. From there it includes Elliotts Field.

The whole of this proposed division is easily accessed by all areas included and all are easily arrived at via links to the A246.

This review allows the opportunity to incorporate areas in the Rugby Borough Council wards of Coton & Boughton and Newbold & Brownsover which share inherent links. It was noted by the Boundary Commission in its final recommendations on the electoral arrangements for Rugby Borough Council in September of 2011 that the main shopping area serving the Brownsover estate were proposed to be incorporated into the Coton & Boughton ward in draft proposals. Alterations to the boundaries were made to ensure this area was incorporated into the Newbold & Brownsover ward. Now the main shopping area in Coton & Boughton, Central Park, services both residents of Brownsover and Coton & Boughton which ensures both these shopping areas are incorporated into the same Division. Residents of KJ2 will send their children to schools within their neighbouring urban polling district areas and similarly residents in DA, DB and DC will send the children to the school in KJ2. KJ2 will have essential ties with polling districts DA, DB, DC, GC, DD and DE despite the separation of a main road and as such must be incorporated into a new Brownsover & Coton Division which will ensure essential co-terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards and community links.

R9 Eastlands

Electorate 8048

The proposed Eastlands Ward is situated to the east of the urban area of the Borough and takes in Hart Fields and Rugby Golf Course.

The creation of a single member Division of Eastlands allows for housing growth in KK2 to be succinctly adjoined to areas where natural links will be shared in Hillmorton. Co- terminosity with present Rugby Borough Council wards has been observed. Schools serving the communities in this area have been given particular consideration. The Eastlands Primary School sits in the centre of this proposed ward.

R10 Hillmorton

Electorate 8342

(South) Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, Hillmorton

The easterly boundary runs along the A5, which is the boundary for the borough and the county, to take in the southerly part of Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, which includes the whole of the Rugby Radio Station ground west of the A5.

This division is rural with the High Street, which becomes Crick Road, providing a transport link across the division and to the A5.

It was noted by the Boundary Commission in its final recommendations on the electoral arrangements for Rugby Borough Council in September of 2011 that the Rugby Borough Council ward of Hillmorton should include parts of Clifton upon Dunsmore parish where development was due to take place. Similarly these proposals incorporate polling district KK2 which falls within the Churchover parish but which can be warded using the precedent set by the Boundary Commission in 2011. Residents of KK2 will share natural community, school, healthcare and amenity links with Hillmorton and should logically be incorporated into a new single member Hillmorton Division. These proposals do not disrupt present community links: they ensure present links are maintained and co-terminosity is ensured wherever possible. Additionally Hillmorton residents will use the new amenities and schools in KK2.

Rugby Conservative 5 Proposal

R1 Fosse 8503

R8 Coton and Brownsover 8290 R7 Benn and New Bilton 8192

R9 Eastlands R2 Earl Craven 8048 8026

R10 Hillmorton 8342

R4 Admirals and Cawston 7248 R5 Bilton and Hillside 7925 R6 Caldecott 8438

R3 Dunsmore and Leam Valley 8139

Warwickshire County Boundary

Warwickshire District / Borough Boundaries Proposed New Electoral Division Boundaries RR11 The numbers refer to the forecast electorate in 2020 0 1 2 3 4

Kilometres ´

Produced by the WCC Corporate GIS Team, 10 April, 2014.