Electoral Review of Council

Proposal for a warding pattern across Breckland Council to support a Council size of 50 Councillors

September 2013

Breckland Council Page 1 05/09/13 Introduction

The Council was pleased to receive notification from the Local Government Boundary Commission that the Council’s submission for a council size of 50 had been adopted.

The Commission has now asked for submissions proposing Warding patterns that reflect this change. Any group or individual is able to put forward suggestions on Warding patterns for the district. The Local Government Boundary Commission for will consider all submissions and propose a warding pattern for the district.

The Council’s proposals follow the process undertaken by the Working Group of six councillors set up for the purpose of in-depth research into the issues relating to council size and warding. This is a cross- party group with members spread across the district.

Guidance issued by the Local Government Boundary Commission suggests that three main rules are followed when a new pattern of wards are produced. They are:

 Delivering electoral equality for local voters – this means ensuring that each local councillor represents roughly the same number of people so that the value of your vote is the same regardless of where you live in the local authority.

 Reflecting the interests and identities of local communities – this means establishing electoral arrangements which, as far as possible, maintain local ties and where boundaries are easily identifiable.

 Promoting effective and convenient local government – this means ensuring that the new wards or electoral divisions can be represented effectively by their elected representative(s) and that the new electoral arrangements as a whole allow the local authority to conduct is business effectively. In addition, we must also ensure that the pattern of wards reflects the electoral cycle of the council.

Matters that could not be taken into account during the electoral review are:  Changes to boundaries between local authorities  Changes to parish boundaries  Creation of new parishes  Changes to electoral arrangements of parish and town councils unless they are as a direct consequence of proposed changes made to district wards.

Breckland Council Page 2 05/09/13

The proposal is for a mixture of one, two and three member wards which equates to 50 Councillors across 31 wards with:

 16 single member wards  11 two member wards  4 three member wards

Profile of the District Breckland Council covers an area of 500 square miles (1300sq kilometres) and is one of the largest rural districts in England. Covering much of the south, west and central parts of , Breckland is centred round the five market towns of , , , and Watton. The largest of these is Thetford with a population of 24,340 and the smallest is Watton with a population of 7202. In total covers approximately 25% of the total area of Norfolk.

Breckland has 94 Parish Councils, including some joint Parish Councils and more than two-thirds of these have fewer than 500 residents.

The area is one of the most rurally sparse in the country, the current density is approximately 1 person per hectare which sets particular challenges in terms of service delivery and demands on resources.

Warding of Breckland The working group began a two-stage process on warding by firstly arriving at a ‘base map’ with allocations of councillors to each urban or rural area using the Town and Parish boundaries as building blocks. This took into account community identity, effectiveness of current warding and electoral equality.

Consultation was then carried out with the current district councillors on the base map as the foundation stone for the process. At this stage, members were aware of how many councillors were required in the 5 market towns (Attleborough, Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford, and Watton) but it was unclear how or whether they would be warded. Therefore the submission includes a mixture of one, two and three Member wards across the District.

The second stage of the process involved inviting District Councillors representing each of the towns and affected surrounding areas to workshops where they were asked for feedback on proposed suggestions using their expertise and local knowledge, and to suggest a preferred option going forward.

Breckland Council Page 3 05/09/13 Based on a Council Size of 50 and growth projections, the projected electorate in 2018 is 106,694 which gives the average number of electors for each Councillor is 2134 compared with the 2012 figure of 1834 (based on the current number of 54 elected members).

Wards were permitted to be within a variance of +/- 10% of the average. The number of electors includes a 6-year forecast based on known forthcoming developments and a professional assessment of the housing delivery via the new Local Plan. Whilst the Council has attempted to deliver electoral equality for local voters, in some wards it has not been possible to maintain the electorate within the permitted variance of +/- 10%. This is primarily due to the rural nature of the District and the number of electors within the parishes.

There were particular challenges in re-drawing the boundaries, such as the STANTA battle area towards the south of the district, with the parishes of Sturston and Tottington being a prohibited area used by the Ministry of Defence as a battle ground.

We also have Parishes which are required to be together as they share a Parish Council, these are Brettenham and , Beeston and Bittering, and and Twyford.

There is minimal public transport within the District with only the major routes covered, the A47 from Dereham through to or Kings Lynn, and the A11 from Attleborough through to Thetford. The rural parishes have very limited public transport, if indeed any at all.

The District is served by two main railway stations at Attleborough and Thetford and gives easy access to , and Norwich.

Initially the Working Group proposed that when the boundaries of a Ward changed, the Ward name should change wherever possible. This was to help with electors identify the Ward to which they belonged rather than making the association between the ward name and old boundaries, however after representations from local councillors, the working group agreed on the proposed ward names within this submission, some of which match existing names.

Breckland Council Page 4 05/09/13 Base Map

Breckland Council Page 5 05/09/13 Breckland Council Page 6 05/09/13 It is proposed that the District is divided into the following wards:

Suggested Ward Name: All Saints This ward surrounds Attleborough and is to the east of the district. It has the A11 running through the north of and through the centre of where there is significant work to improve employment growth. Whilst the proposal falls outside of the Commission’s suggested guidance in terms of electoral equality, with the exception of the small parish of , all the parishes border the town of Attleborough and form a natural Ward to the west of the town. The road network across the Ward is good, with easy access to the main A11 Norwich to road.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Ellingham (Great) 939 2436 1 2436 +14% Ellingham (little) 182 520 Quidenham 368 Snetterton 150 277

Suggested Ward Name: Ashill Ashill is located in the heart of the district. The nature of the geography of the ward, the size of the electorate in the area makes this an ideal scenario for a single member ward, and falls well within the optimum electoral figure. It comprises a number of rural parishes with Ashill being the largest. The A1065 is the main road through and , with the B1108 coming off this and running east through the north of Ickburgh, Hilborough and on into Watton.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Ashill 1083 2214 1 2214 +4% Cressingham (Great) 206 Cressingham (Little) 106 Ickburgh 200 Hilborough 172 Pickenham (South) 72 Pickenham (North) 375

Breckland Council Page 7 05/09/13 Attleborough Attleborough is an affluent to the east of the District with the A11 running around the north edge of the town. The proposal is to divide into 2 wards, with 3 members in Queens Ward (the north of the town) and 2 Members in Burgh and Haverscroft Ward (the south of the town).

There is significant development within the proposed Attleborough Queens ward of approximately 2160 electors by 2018. An Area Action Plan for Attleborough is currently being prepared. Significant development in Attleborough will require a longer lead in time, with early phases of the major development unlikely to be occupied until 2016/17.

Town members were presented with two suggestions on how the boundaries should change with either a north/south divide or an east/west divide. Using the member’s knowledge of the town, it was concluded that a North / South divide seemed logical using the natural boundary of the London Road through the centre of the town and out on the Besthorpe Road.

On the base map, it is proposed that Besthorpe Parish be included with Attleborough, and Besthorpe electorate would be included in the Burgh & Haverscroft Ward, based on projected electorate figures for 2018, the new Burgh & Haverscroft ward would have 2 Councillors with an electorate of 4659 (within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor) and the new Queens ward would have 3 Councillors with an electorate of 6172 (also within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor).

Suggested Ward Names: Attleborough – Queens Attleborough – Burgh & Haverscroft

Electorate Area Total Number of Electors per +/- Electorate councillors Councillor Attleborough – Burgh & Haverscroft 4659 2 2330 +9% Attleborough – Queens 6172 3 2057 -4%

The overall electoral ratio for the town of Attleborough (including Besthorpe) based on an electorate of 10831 and 5 Councillors is +2% over the average of 2134 electors for each Councillor,

Breckland Council Page 8 05/09/13 Attleborough Map

Breckland Council Page 9 05/09/13 Attleborough Street Level Analysis Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft Attleborough - Queens (2 Member) (3 Member)

Street Elector Street Elector Count Count Arlington Close 46 Alexandra Way 61 Arlington Gardens 126 Ash Tree Close 59 Barley Way 84 Atling Close 24 Beech Avenue 48 Atling Way 47 Birch Drive 35 Balmoral Close 26 Besthorpe Road 259 Bannister Close 29 Black Carr 31 Bayfield 28 Blenheim Drive 44 Bilberry Close 18 Buckenham Road 126 Bickley Close 44 Bunwell Road 60 Blackthorn Road 65 Burgh Common 26 Bluebell Close 26 Carleton Rode 2 Bowling Green Close 16 Cedar Drive 120 Bracken Drive 35 Church Street 34 Bryony Way 18 Cider Close 7 Burdock Way 15 Clover Road 68 Campion Way 25 Connaught Plain 8 Carvers Lane 12 Connaught Road 57 Cawdor Close 22 Constable Close 42 Celandine Road 45 Croft Green 62 Chapel Road 158 Cygnet Close 61 Cow Common 29 Dairy Farm Court 32 Crows Hall Lane 12 Dodds Close 19 Cyprus Road 95 Dodds Lane 8 Cyprus Farm Loke 11 Dodds Road 47 Deopham Road 28 Dorset Close 34 Eastland Close 16 Dunnett Close 23 Edwards Court 0 Edenside Drive 99 Ellingham Road 67 Eden Close 3 Elizabeth Close 67 Eden Lane 10 Estcourt Road 27 Ellison Close 31 Etive Close 21 Exchange Street 12 Fen Street 7 Fairfield Drive 108 Ferguson Way 43 Granary Road 18 Fiddlers Green 9 Griffin Lane 22 Fishermans Court 12 Halford Close 82 Foxglove Road 39 Halford Place 33 Gentian Way 11 Halford Road 131 Grapes Close 5 Hargham Road 331 Hammond Way 24 High Street 44 Hazel Road 18 Holly Road 29 Heather Close 6 Keeling Way 120 High View Drive 53 Kent Close 21 Hill Common 6 Kingfisher Road 107 Hills End Lane 13 Larch Close 16 Honeysuckle Way 31 Laxton Close 32 Iris Close 19 Leys Lane 137 Jasmine Court 47 London Road 221 Kenan Drive 28 Meadow Way 29 Kishorn Way 42 Mill Lane 51 Knevet Close 60 Morley Road 2 Lark Drive 9 New Road 25 Lavender Close 59 New North Road 169 Lomond Road 77 Norwich Road 142 Long Street 15 Oaklands Close 15 Mallow Close 15 Ollands Road 136 Mill Lane 104 Paddock Gardens 55 Morar Drive 49 Pine Court 30 Morley Road 18 Plantation Close 20 Mortimer Close 30 Poplar Way 59 Norfolk Drive 84 Rose Lane 5 Norwich Road 174 Russet Close 16 Oakleigh Court 10 Rye Lane 73 Orchard Close 45 School Lane 12 Plasset Drive 73 Shannons Close 13 Plumstead Drive 27

Breckland Council Page 10 05/09/13 Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft Attleborough - Queens (2 Member) (3 Member)

Street Elector Street Elector Count Count Shrub Close 11 Primrose Close 33 Silver Street 107 Rosecroft 27 Slough Lane 22 Queens Court 23 Sluts Hole Lane 7 Queens Road 111 Spooner Row Road 3 Queens Square 37 Station Road 86 Richmond Park 54 Surrogate Street 84 Sheppard Way 29 Sycamore Close 31 Short Road 7 Thieves Lane 85 Snowdrop Drive 73 Thorpe Drive 109 Sorrel Drive 68 White House Lane 8 Speedwell Close 30 Woodside Close 12 Springfields 73 Woodside Court 27 St Edmund Close 29 Woodside Park 46 St Edmunds Gate 32 Worcester Way 45 St Marys Close 50 Wymbur Drive 8 Sunart Close 15 Swangey Lane 5 Total 4659 Tantallon Drive 57 Teasel Road 53 The Brecks 12 The Coppice 55 The Drift 17 The Oaks 9 The Old Orchard 11 The Southacre 13 Tummel Way 53 Thyme Close 36 Tulip Close 21 Varrick Way 34 Violet Close 13 Warren`s Lane 9 Watling Road 23 Wayland Close 55 Wayland Court 30 West Carr Road 161 Westfields 35 White Horse Lane 16 Whitworth Avenue 18 Willow Court 20 Woods End 8 Wroo Road 7 Yew Tree Road 142

New Developments 2160

Total 6172

Breckland Council Page 11 05/09/13 Suggested Ward Name: Blackwater & Fen This proposed ward is located towards the east of the District. Historically and were linked as two of the 100 parishes under the old Union. The reason behind the name is that the Blackwater rises in Shipdham (as the source of the Yare) and passes through each of the villages of Letton, , Southburgh and Woodrising. Scarning is and has always been known for its fen.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Cranworth 338 4445 2 2222 +4% Scarning 2203 Shipdham 1904

Suggested Ward Name: Chase This proposal covers the largest geographical area of any of the Breckland wards. The parish of Stanford is located in the STANTA battleground, access to which is prohibited by the Ministry of Defence. It borders with the proposed Wayland ward which includes prohibited military battle ground. It covers the south west of the district and borders with Forest Heath District Council. The proposal falls marginally outside of the Commission’s suggested guidance in terms of electoral equality on the basis that this area is a particularly sparely populated part of the district and making the Ward larger purely to improve the electoral equality would not promote effective and convenient local government The name Chase was suggested based on the areas close proximity to Thetford Chase.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor 277 3750 2 1875 -12% 128 35 26 Foulden 314 255 98 1128 178 Stanford 7 with Broomhill 1304

Breckland Council Page 12 05/09/13 Suggested Ward Name: Colkirk forms the north west corner of the district and borders with both , and Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Council’s. It comprises of a number of small rural parishes, with Colkirk being the largest.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Colkirk 462 2128 1 2128 0% 131 444 Stanfield 115 295 172 152 30 327

Dereham Dereham is to the north east of the district and is a thriving market town which has the mid-Norfolk railway running through the east of the town, and the A47, a major route through Norfolk, going along the south of the town. There are currently 7 Members across 4 wards.

Dereham Central had a variance of 34% which was one trigger for the electoral review. Having looked at the evidence in more detail part of Dereham Central was to the south of the A47 boundary so it seemed logical to bring all of Toftwood into one ward.

Town members were presented with a suggestion using the A47 and the Mid Norfolk Railway as the boundaries. However, using the member’s knowledge of the town, it was concluded that an alternative solution would deliver better electoral quality and better reflect the interest and identities of local communities.

From the A47 bridge for the Mid Norfolk Railway line and Road in the south of the town, to the end of Quebec Road to the north of the town, there are five roads which together work as the main road artery through the middle of Dereham. These are Yaxham Road, London Road, High Street, Market Place and Quebec Road.

Breckland Council Page 13 05/09/13 If these roads formed the boundary between the new east and west wards, based on projected population figures for 2018, the new Dereham east ward would have 3 Councillors with an electorate of 5947 (within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor) and the new Dereham west ward would have 2 Councillors with an electorate of 4505 (also within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor).

Both sides of the five roads would fall into the east ward to help achieve fair elector representation.

Suggested Ward Names are: Dereham Neatherd Dereham Toftwood Dereham Withburga

Electorate Area Total Number of Electors per +/- Electorate councillors Councillor Dereham Neatherd 5947 3 1982 -7% Dereham Toftwood 4285 2 2142 0% Dereham Withburga 4505 2 2252 6%

The overall electoral ratio for the town of Dereham based on an electorate of 14737 and 7 Councillors is -2% under the average of 2134 electors for each Councillor

Breckland Council Page 14 05/09/13 Dereham Map

Breckland Council Page 15 05/09/13 Dereham Street Level Analysis Dereham Neatherd Dereham Toftwood Dereham Withburga (3 Member) (2 Member) (2 Member) Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Count Count Count

Albert Myhill Close 34 Amsterdam Way 33 Alexander Way 15 Alder End 0 Andrew Goodall Close 114 Attlee Way 32 Ash Close 0 Breton Close 40 Burns Close 28 Aspen Walk 0 Bridge Gardens 17 Byron Avenue 111 Badley Moor 28 Brook Grove 27 Chase Court 18 Bath Avenue 20 Brunswick Close 108 Colin Mclean Road 98 Blackberry Close 22 Brussels Close 31 Dairy Crescent 11 Boundary Close 35 Bulstrode Avenue 17 Dale Road 54 Box Walk 0 Canons Close 14 De Havilland Road 102 Briar Close 11 Carl Close 47 Dillington 25 Campion Road 18 Casaubon Close 13 Dunlop Road 56 Cecil Road 57 Chapel Lane 20 Elvin Road 55 Crabapple Road 0 Charles Close 130 Girling Road 74 Crown Gardens 17 Christie Close 15 Heath Road 17 Crown Road 134 Colleen Close 69 Humbletoft Road 89 Elderberry Drive 46 Copenhagen Walk 20 Keats Close 9 Elm Street 0 Diana Close 25 Macarthur Drive 27 Etling Green 76 Dorothea Drive 25 Masefield Mews 67 Field Maple Drive 0 Dowling Close 9 Michael Monument Court 8 Foxglove Drive 53 Elizabeth Close 21 Milton Close 18 Gordon Road 76 Farebrother Way 14 Mitchell Close 40 Hornbeam Drive 0 Farm Way 17 Mountbatten Drive 29 Jubilee Avenue 51 Featherstone Court 21 Powell Court 22 Juniper Walk 0 Fenview 25 Sandy Lane 71 Keepers Close 21 Florence Walk 67 Sandy Lane East 91 Larks Place 35 Geneva Walk 66 Sandy Lane West 194 Malthouse Court 117 George Eliot Way 40 Shakespeare Close 13 Road 59 Heidi Close 23 Sheddick Court 51 Mulberry Drive 0 Helsinki Way 99 St Hilda Close 48 Neatherd Moor 45 Hill Fields 51 St Hilda Road 53 Neatherd Road 76 Hillcrest Avenue 256 Stanton Close 12 Northall Green 42 Holland Court 19 Stilwell Drive 49 Norwich Road 433 Kennedy Close 62 Swaffham Road 18 Oak Road 0 Kevin Walk 26 Valley View 20 Orchard End 8 Ladislaw Way 23 Wallace Close 54 Paget Adams Drive 52 Larkspur Court 17 Wavell Road 117 Pavilion Way 45 Larners Drift 31 William O`callaghan Place 15 Ramillies Close 8 Larners Road 33 Wordsworth Drive 43 Rosa Vella Drive 23 Lavender Grove 17 Yeats Way 26 Rose Drive 26 Lesley Walk 11 Sallow Walk 0 Lilac Close 14 Albion Terrace 11 Scotts Pine Walk 0 Limassol Road 47 Aldiss Avenue 47 Silver Birch Road 0 Lime Drive 16 Ascot Gardens 27 Spindle End 0 Lisbon Road 71 Ashley Walk 40 Swanton Close 22 Lowick Close 17 Barnaby Close 32 Swanton Drive 85 Luxembourg Way 28 Barwells Court 6 Teasel Close 27 Lydgate Close 17 Baxter Row 67 Tudor Court 18 Margaret Close 12 Bayfield Avenue 10 Union Drift 17 Marion Walk 15 Beatrice Avenue 38 Union Square 7 Middlemarch Road 237 Becclesgate 74 Wheatcroft Way 54 Mill Court 12 Beech Court 46 Whitebeam Way 0 Nidus Gardens 10 Belgrave Gardens 15 Windmill Avenue 78 Old Hall Road 52 Boston Close 22 Wychelm Way 0 Orchid Avenue 58 Cabinet Close 30 Yarrow Road 13 Peters Close 21 Captain Ford Way 4 Yew Tree Way 0 Philip Place 21 Carlton Close 40 Pine Grove 21 Cartledge Close 19 Banyard Court 9 Pond Road 25 Church Street 13 Banyard Place 35 Recreation Road 38 Churchill Court 17 Brailsford Close 60 Regent Close 20 Clifton Terrace 9 Bramley Road 62 Roger Ride 20 Coach House Close 5 Chapel Walk 0 Rome Walk 29 Copsey Walk 23 Cherry Drift 25 Sharon Close 22 Courtenay Close 13 Cherry Lane 3 Shipdham Road 303 Crane Close 21 Cherry Orchard 17 Smithson Loke 0 Cygnet Road 19 Doris Barnes Court 39 St Georges Drive 59 Cygnet Road 12 Fern Close 34 Stockholm Way 52 Daphne Close 8

Breckland Council Page 16 05/09/13 Dereham Neatherd Dereham Toftwood Dereham Withburga (3 Member) (2 Member) (2 Member) Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Count Count Count Galloway Close 5 Stone Road 221 Darwin Walk 47 Greenfields Road 152 Strasbourg Way 100 Eaton Gardens 17 Harold Whitby Close 11 Place 16 Epsom Gardens 16 Hazel Grove 17 Sunsalve Ride 35 Erwin Court 0 High Street 41 The Crescent 79 Foundry Square 14 Holly Close 22 Tipton Close 30 Fox Road 16 Honeysuckle Drive 59 The Sycamores 15 Gilpins Ride 63 Lynn Court 41 The Woodlands 11 Haig Close 10 Market Place 7 Vienna Walk 94 Heffer Close 17 Neatherd Road 28 Warren Place 34 Howard Crescent 9 Norwich Road 217 Watersfield Way 49 Howlett Close 10 Olney Road 12 William Way 56 Hyde Road 49 Rowan Drive 23 Willow Grove 20 Jentique Close 43 Thompsons Way 3 Woodfield 21 Johnson Close 23 Wellington Road 11 Wright Avenue 32 Lineside 49 Wisteria Close 38 Zara Way 17 Littlefields 95 Mallard Way 9 Bishop Tyne Avenue 31 Acacia Avenue 24 Mary Unwin Road 15 Burton Tyne Avenue 25 Beech Drive 23 Mayes Terrace 5 Dumpling Green 48 Boyd Avenue 206 Metamec Drive 23 George Borrow Road 45 Chestnut Close 12 Moorgate Road 193 Handel Drive 9 Elm Park 10 Old Becclesgate 10 Potters Bar 38 Laburnum Crescent 31 Pippin Close 24 Smith Tyne Avenue 30 Neville Close 78 Prospect Place 4 Stephen Beaumont Way 9 Rash`s Green 5 Quebec Street 16 Yaxham Road 141 School Lane 71 Reeder Close 33 Sheldrick Place 39 Rolling Pin Lane 8 Acorn Way 35 Westfield Lane 21 Romney Walk 31 Boton Drive 26 Westfield Road 120 Russet Way 68 Castell Road 10 William Cowper Close 69 Sardis Way 9 Cemetery Road 51 South End 88 De Narde Road 40 Total 4,489 South Green 133 Emelson Close 44 South Green Gardens 83 Highfield Road 68 Reduction based on NCC 204 St Withburga Lane 8 calculations Kings Park 93 Swaffham Road 13 Kings Road 81 Total 4,285 Swan Road 98 Lime Tree Close 10 Tavern Lane 6 Oakwood Close 37 Tebbutt Avenue 37 Oakapple Drive 12 The Grove 20 Oakwood Road 35 The Home Close 10 St Nicholas Street 43 Thorp Court 51 Stigands Gate 29 Toftmead Close 24 Swanton Avenue 70 Vicarage Meadows 28 Swanton Grove 30 Walnut Way 33 Swanton Road 68 Waples Way 60 Theatre Street 88 Washbridge 13 Townshend Road 71 York Place, Becclesgate 40 Trinity Close 38 Warner Avenue 16 Wellington Road 7 New Developments 286 Windsor Park 65 Wollaston Avenue 22 Total 4,505

Armstrong Drive 15 Bell Yard 21 Bulwer Road 18 Danesfort Drive 28 Northgate 86 Old Quarry Court 7 Oldfield Court 18 Park Road 50 Quebec Hall 18 Quebec Hall Bungalows 53 Raynham Ride 19

Commercial Road 138 Cowper Road 19 John Bates Close 31 London Road 88

Breckland Council Page 17 05/09/13 Dereham Neatherd Dereham Toftwood Dereham Withburga (3 Member) (2 Member) (2 Member) Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Count Count Count Matsell Way 4 Norwich Street 94 Quebec Road 160 Station Road 3 The Maltings 152

New Developments 500

Total 5,947

Breckland Council Page 18 05/09/13 Suggested Ward Name: Heathlands Heathlands is located in the south of the district and borders with St. Edmundsbury Council. It comprises of a number of small rural parishes, and is directly to the east of Thetford. Harling is currently the largest parish but it is expected that by 2018 that Croxton will have significant development. The proposal falls outside of the Commission’s suggested guidance in terms of electoral equality, on the basis that five of the parishes within this proposed ward are within the existing ward of Harling & Heathlands this continues to provide effective and convenient local government for this area whilst continuing to reflect the interests and identities of the local communities. The transport network across the area is good, with the main A11 Norwich to London road cutting through the Ward, giving easy access to Thetford in the west and Attleborough in the east of the district.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor 253 5042 2 2521 +18% Harling 1823 & 193 Brettenham 277 Kilverstone 46 Croxton 2450

Suggested Ward Name: The proposed ward of Kenninghall forms the south east corner of the district and borders with St. Edmundsbury and Council’s. It comprises of a number of small rural parishes councils with Kenninghall being the largest. The proposal falls outside of the Commission’s suggested guidance in terms of electoral equality, but four of the parishes within this proposed ward are within the existing ward of West Guiltcross this continues to provide effective and convenient local government for this area whilst continuing to reflect the interests and identities of the local communities.The A1066 is the main route which runs through the centre of the proposed area, giving good transport links throughout the ward and links the towns of Diss and Thetford.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Blo’Norton 211 2468 1 2468 +16% 583 Kenninghall 772 Lopham (North) 504 Lopham (South) 289 109

Breckland Council Page 19 05/09/13 Suggested Ward Name: Launditch Launditch is north west of the district and the proposal is broadly the same as the current ward arrangement but with the inclusion of which gives better electoral equality. All the parishes in the new proposed ward were part of the old administrative area of the Launditch Hundred and were later included within the boundaries of Mitford and Launditch RDC. Retaining the ward name Launditch would perpetuate the historical connection to the Hundred.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor 376 2020 1 2020 -5% Dunham (Great) 257 Dunham (Little) 267 Fransham 360 17 110 492 Newton by 31 Rougham 110

Suggested Ward Name: Lincoln This proposed ward is to the east of the district and surrounds the north of Dereham. The suggested ward name is based on the fact that Richard Lincoln (1550-1620), the local churchwarden lived in the Angel Free House pub. The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was a descendant of Richard Lincoln.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor 1147 4232 2 2116 -1% 207 871 Hoe 183 202 1370 Wendling 252

Suggested Ward Name: Lyng This proposed ward is situated in the north east of the district and borders with District Council. It comprises of a number of small parishes with Lyng being the largest.

Breckland Council Page 20 05/09/13

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor 578 2204 1 2204 +3% 57 477 Lyng 649 202 Tuddenham (North) 241

Suggested Ward Name: Mattishall This proposed ward is situated to the east of the district and surrounds the south of Dereham. The Mid-Norfolk railway runs through the parishes of Yaxham, Whinburgh, and and on into . This comprises a number of small parishes plus the larger village of Mattishall. The B1135 links Yaxham, Mattishall and and joins onto the A47.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Garvestone 545 4293 2 2416 +1% Hardingham 194 Mattishall 2192 Tuddenham (East) 387 Whinburgh & Westfield 309 Yaxham 666

Suggested Ward Name: Narborough This proposed ward is to the west of the district and surrounds the north of Swaffham. It borders with Kings Lynn and West Norfolk District Council. The proposal falls outside of the Commission’s suggested guidance in terms of electoral equality, but the proposal is broadly the same as the current ward of Nar Valley this continues to provide effective and convenient local government for this area whilst continuing to reflect the interests and identities of the local communities. The proposed ward consists of small parishes with Narborough being the largest. All the parishes border the town of Swaffham and form a natural Ward to the north of the town. The transport network across the area is good, with the main cutting through the Ward, giving direct access to Kings Lynn in the west and Norwich in the east.

Breckland Council Page 21 05/09/13

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Narborough 940 1809 1 1809 -15% 37 808 24

Suggested Ward Name: The proposed Necton ward is located the centre of the district with the A47 running through Necton and onto Swaffham. With the addition of parish this provides better electoral equality.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Holme Hale 390 2025 1 2025 -5% Necton 1635

Suggested Ward Name: This proposed ward is located in the centre of the District. It is broadly the same as the current ward of Haggard de Toni but with the inclusion of Ovington to create better electoral equality.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Bradenham 522 1975 1 1975 -7% Ovington 232 Saham Toney 1221

Suggested Ward Name: Swaffham Swaffham is a small market town with a proposed electorate of 6469 in 2018 and is very much seen as a single community. The town is currently a 3-Member ward, and members were asked for their views on future electoral arrangements. All members propose that the town remains as a single 3-Member ward. The reason for this was that residents did not refer to the town as being to the north, south, east or west, and electors had a choice of which Councillor they could contact if they had an issue, which promotes effective and convenient local government and continues to reflect the interests and identities of local communities.

Breckland Council Page 22 05/09/13 There is a projected increase of 601 electors by 2018, giving a total of 6469 and therefore gives good electoral equality.

Electorate Area Total Number of Electors per +/- Electorate councillors Councillor Swaffham 6469 3 2156 +1%

Suggested Ward Name: Templar The suggested ward of Templar is located in the east of the district. The parish of was originally in Templar – a ward which was signposted as having an electoral variance of 34%. This proposed ward addresses this issue and gives greater electoral equality. It is proposed that this ward retains the name of Templar due to the history of the Carbrooke Parish which is the largest village within the proposed ward. The area around the Church in Carbrooke was an old priory housing the Knight Templar’s from the Crusade era.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Carbrooke 1941 2154 1 2154 +1% 213

Suggested Ward Name: The Buckenhams & Banham This proposed ward is located in the south east of the district, and borders with Attleborough. It also borders with South Norfolk District Council. The B1077 which runs through Attleborough continues through to , and towards the east of Banham. The current Buckenham ward currently comprises of Old and , but with the inclusion of Banham, this gives better electoral equality which in turn promotes effective and convenient local government.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Buckenham (New) 371 2362 1 2362 +11% Buckenham (Old) 900 Banham 1091

Breckland Council Page 23 05/09/13 Thetford Thetford is the largest market town and is located at the south of the District, the gateway to Breckland. It borders with St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath Council’s. Thetford is currently divided into four wards comprising of nine members, with a two member ward, a one member ward and two three member wards. There is a projected increase of 1017 electors by 2018, giving a total of 17987 and based on these figures it is proposed that the current number of Councillors for Thetford remains at nine.

Members were presented with a number of proposals and as a result the recommendation of the Working Group is:

Thetford Boudica comprises of a two-Member ward and uses the natural boundary of the railway line to the west, the parish boundary of Croxton and Lynford to the north and east and Station Road, Norwich Road, and Mundford Road to the south.

Based on projected population figures for 2018, the new Thetford Boudica ward would have 2 Councillors with an electorate of 4257 (within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor)

It was suggested that to promote effective and convenient local government the current Saxon ward was split into a two member ward (Thetford Burrell) and a one member ward (Thetford Furze).

Thetford Burrell comprises of a two-member ward and uses the natural boundaries of the River to the east, and north of the Ward, the main London Road to the west and the County boundary with Suffolk to the south.

Based on projected population figures for 2018, the new Thetford Burrell ward would have 2 Councillors with an electorate of 3875 (within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor)

Thetford Castle ward comprises of a one member ward and remains unchanged as the potential growth within the castle ward gives good electoral equality and continues to reflect the interests and identities of the local community.

Based on projected population figures for 2018, the new Thetford Castle ward would have a single Councillor with an electorate of 2041 (within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor) Thetford Cathedral comprises a single member ward, and remains unchanged from the current polling district of Thetford Abbey East, and uses the natural boundaries of the river to the south and west, and the railway line to the north and Station Road and Norwich Road to the south.

Breckland Council Page 24 05/09/13 Based on projected population figures for 2018, the new Thetford Cathedral ward would have a single Councillor with an electorate of 2051 (within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor)

Thetford Cloverfields comprises of a two member ward, and has the parish boundaries of Croxton to the north and Kilverstone to the east, the main A1066 to the south, and the railway line to the west.

Based on projected population figures for 2018, the new Thetford Cloverfields ward would have 2 Councillors with an electorate of 3936 (within the 10% of the desired 2134 electors per councillor)

Thetford Furze comprises of a single member ward, and uses the County Boundaries to the south and west, and the river to the north, and the main London Road to the east.

Based on projected population figures for 2018, the new Thetford Furze ward would have a single Councillor with an electorate of 1827. The proposal falls outside of the Commission’s suggested guidance in terms of electoral equality, but is based on strong, easily identifiable boundaries and continues to promote effective and convenient local government for the area.

Suggested ward names are: Thetford Boudica Thetford Burrell Thetford Castle Thetford Cathedral Thetford Cloverfields Thetford Furze

Electorate Area Total Number of Electors per +/- Electorate councillors Councillor Thetford Boudica 4257 2 2128 0% Thetford Burrell 3875 2 1937 -9% Thetford Castle 2041 1 2041 -4% Thetford Cathedral 2051 1 2051 -4% Thetford Cloverfields 3936 2 1968 -8% Thetford Furze 1827 1 1827 -14%

The overall electoral ratio for the town of Thetford based on an electorate of 17987 and 9 Councillors is -8% under the average of 2134 electors for each Councillor.

Breckland Council Page 25 05/09/13 Thetford Map

Breckland Council Page 26 05/09/13 Thetford Street Level Analysis

Thetford Boudica Thetford Burrell Thetford Castle Thetford Cathedral Thetford Cloverfields Thetford Furze

(2 Members) (2 Members) (1 Member) (1 Member) (2 Members) (1 Member)

Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Count Count Count Count Count Count Barley Way 44 Bridge Street 11 Autumn Close 13 Canterbury Way 140 Alder Covert 28 Boston End 0 Betjeman Close 48 Bury Road 144 Bridge Street 7 Chester Way 77 Benet Close 17 Brandon Road 71 Burns Close 23 Chase Court 21 Bridges Walk 2 Coventry Way 98 Bergamot Close 21 Burlington Close 0 Byron Walk 39 Dane Close 23 Castle Lane 31 Durham Way 107 Birch Covert 85 Canons Close 141 Clover Way 41 Fulmerston Road 54 Castle Street 154 Edinburgh Way 111 Blackthorn Close 17 Canons Walk 84 Croxton Road 5 Icknield Close 19 Chalk Close 60 Elgin Way 37 Bluebell Close 43 Castleford Close 29 Croxton Road 120 Icknield Way 93 Earls Street 89 Ely Way 151 Borage Close 12 Coney Close 58 Dryden Close 18 London Road 20 Ford Street 68 Exeter Way 25 Buttercup Close 40 Fraser Close 0 Eliot Close 14 Mill Lane 71 Green Lane 57 Gloucester Way 249 Campion Road 71 Haling Way 22 Fairfields 287 Nelson Crescent 51 Grove Lane 40 Guildford Way 158 Caraway Road 45 Hudson Close 0 Fred Attfield Court 23 Newtown 136 Guildhall Street 8 Hanover Court 39 Celandine Close 27 Jubilee Close 32 Hardy Close 58 Old Bury Road 21 King Street 8 Hereford Close 27 Charlock Road 57 Mackenzie Road 127 Highlands 136 Saxon Place 55 Lamberts 18 Lincoln Way 120 Chervil Walk 7 Maine Street 12 Hitchcock Close 3 St Audreys 29 Lime Grove 8 Monksgate 98 Coltsfoot Way 85 Montpelier Drive 0 Keats Close 15 St Margarets Crescent 31 Lime Kiln Lane 46 Ripon Way 119 Columbine Close 44 New England Way 0 Masefield Walk 19 St Marys Court 25 Magdalen Street 167 Salisbury Way 114 Comfrey Way 124 New Hampshire Way 4 Milton Close 24 St Marys Crescent 55 Market Place 2 St Albans Way 137 Coriander Drive 77 Porland Place 0 Scott Close 20 Star Lane 4 Melford Bridge Road 78 Walmington Court 2 Crecy Mews 0 Prior Stephen Way 36 Shakespeare Way 38 The Ouse Avenue 14 Melford Common 17 Winchester Way 110 Cuthbert Close 27 Redcastle Road 31 Shelley Way 106 Watermill Green 57 Melford Court 3 York Way 132 Cypress Covert 14 Ross Walk 0 Tennyson Way 139 Williamson Crescent 31 Minstergate 6 Ethelreda Drive 78 Santon Close 19 The Covert 45 Nether Row 17 Total 2051 Fennel Way 12 Saxon Bank 21 The Glade 96 Almond Grove 54 Nickerson Yard 1 Foxglove Road 63 St Johns Way 662 Tithing Close 19 Anglian Close 0 Norfolk Road 84 George Road 35 St Martins Way 365 Woodlands Close 23 Ash Close 130 Norwich Road 42 Green Lane 3 Stowe Walk 0 Woodlands Drive 173 Aspen Close 9 Old Market Street 108 Harebell Close 19 Stuart Drive 3 Wordsworth Green 10 Beech Close 47 Park View 29 Hastings Close 0 Vermont Walk 0 Bittern Close 15 Pike Lane 36 Hazel Covert 41 Warren Close 12 Glebe Close 192 Bracken Road 140 Raymond Street 50 Heartsease Road 47 Manse Court 24 Bury Road 91 Redgate 224 Honeysuckle Close 16 New Developments 98 Norwich Road (East) 46 Elm Road 292 Rope Walk 12 Jasmine Close 71 Orchard Way 38 Fir Road 169 Spring Walk 3 Juniper Close 76 Total 1827 Vicarage Road 134 Fir Walk 9 St Giles Lane 23 Jutland Close 0 Wheatacres 31 Fulmerston Close 27 St Nicholas Street 14 Lavender Court 16 Windmill Close 4 Fulmerston Road 100 The Meadows 59 Lawrence Road 29 Goshawk Way 23 Thomas Paine Avenue 11 Mallow Road 205 Abbey Green 23 Hillary Road 49 Well Street 5 Pennycress Drive 61 Abbey House, Abbeygate 4 Kestrel Close 18 White Hart Street 21 Peter Drive 17 Abbeygate 78 Kimms Belt 135 Poppy Close 23 Avenue Gardens 18 Kingfisher Close 19 New Properties 420 Primrose Close 64 Ben Culey Drive 127 Kingsway 40 Rosecroft Way 114 Claxton Close 4 Laburnum Grove 49 Total 2041 Sorrel Drive 49 Croxton Road 51 Mingay Road 134 Speedwell Close 52 Millers Lane 16 Nightingale Way 87 Spindle Drive 87 Mundford Road 1 Nunnery Drive 271 Sundew Close 27 Mundford Road, Two Mile Bottom 3 Nunnery Place 17 Sycamore Covert 36 New Road 25 Nuns Bridges Road 10 Teasel Drive 90 Painter Street 52 Nunsgate 65 Thistle Close 77 Priory Park 52 Oak Close 64 Thyme Close 92 St Nicholas Street 39 Partridge Drive 18 Trafalgar Way 0 Station Lane 5 Pine Close 76 Valerian Rise 18

Breckland Council Page 27 05/09/13 Thetford Boudica Thetford Burrell Thetford Castle Thetford Cathedral Thetford Cloverfields Thetford Furze

(2 Members) (2 Members) (1 Member) (1 Member) (2 Members) (1 Member)

Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Street Elector Count Count Count Count Count Count Station Road 70 Plover Close 23 Waterloo Close 0 The Sidings 31 Queensway 82 Woodruff Road 76 Water Lane 4 Rowan Close 46 Yarrow Close 55 Sloane Way 45 Amelia Opie Way 23 St Barnabas Close 39 Admirals Way 188 Anna Gurney Close 27 St Edmunds Court 21 Beatty Close 32 Anna Sewell Close 69 St Michaels Close 148 Benbow Road 58 Anne Bartholomew Road 235 Staniforth Road 71 Churchill Road 137 Anne Boleyn Close 44 Stearne Close 38 Collingwood Walk 23 Boadicea Close 26 Sweyn Close 0 Collingwood Way 36 Buckenham Way 23 The Wrens 9 Cunningham Close 37 Catherine Howard Close 61 Tudor Close 26 Cunningham Walk 16 Celia Phillips Close 52 Ulfkell Road 79 Drake Road 28 Croxton Road 11 Viking Mews 0 Duncan Close 21 Edith Cavell Close 80 Wagtail Way 13 Eppingham Close 23 Elizabeth Fry Close 41 Woodlark Close 14 Fisher Way 86 Elizabeth Watling Close 59 Frobisher Close 61 Ethel Colman Way 65 New Properties 98 Grenville Way 109 Florence Barclay Close 105 Harwood Avenue 102 Harriet Martineau Close 62 Total 3875 Hawthorn Walk 30 Millicent Oliver Close 18 Hawthorn Way 75 Mother Julian Close 46 Hood Way 40 Richard Easten Road 29 Jellicoe Place 28 Stanford Road 85 Mountbatten Close 34 Sturston Close 20 Norwich Road 66 Sybil Wheeler Close 63 Raleigh Way 43 Tottington Close 38 Ramsey Close 39 Sturdee Close 66 New Development (other) 317 New Developments 68 Total 4257 Total 3936

Breckland Council Page 28 05/09/13 Suggested Ward Name: Upper Wensum This proposed ward is located in the north of the district, with the B1110 running through the centre of and into . The B1145 joins , North Elmham, and Billingford. This comprises of a number of small rural parishes, with North Elmham being the largest. The runs through the heart of the proposed ward.

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Billingford 190 2175 1 2175 +2% Bintree 263 Brisley 224 North Elmham 962 249 74 Guist 194 Twyford 19

Watton Watton is situated on the crossroads of the A1075 Dereham-Thetford Road and the B1108 Brandon to Norwich Road. The town covers an area of approx 2.8 sq miles. It is the smallest market town and the most densely populated parish in Breckland with a current electorate figure of 5854 (based on 2012 figures). It is currently a 3-Member ward, and Members were asked their views on future electoral arrangements.

All members propose that the town remains a single 3 Member ward. The reasons given by the members was that it is a small area, and having three members representing the whole town was a strength, giving people a choice of which Councillor residents could contact if they had an issue. This promotes effective and convenient local government and continues to reflect the interests and identities of local communities.

There is a projected increase of 1094 electors in 2018, giving a total of 6678 and therefore delivers better electoral equality.

Electorate Area Total Number of Electors per +/- Electorate councillors Councillor Watton 6678 3 2226 +4%

Breckland Council Page 29 05/09/13 Suggested Ward Name: Wayland This proposed ward is located towards the south of the District. It comprises of nine rural parishes that have a strong community cohesiveness. Rural parishes have interdependency insofar as primary education is concerned and thus the village schools of , Thompson and provide early years education for the children of the 9 parishes. At secondary level the education needs are met in Watton, Thetford and Attleborough.

The A1075 that bisects the proposed ward is a designated county corridor of movement and as the historical parish boundaries straddle this relatively new route the parishes that make up the proposed ward also have common safety issues related to the highway and under the auspices of the Wayland Partnership have been able to concentrate resources to deliver road improvements that have benefited the local communities. The A1075 thus acts as the glue that binds the various rural communities through which it passes.

The proposed ward also contains two parishes of Sturston and Tottington to the west that are located in the STANTA battleground, access to both of which is prohibited by the Ministry of Defence.

The proposed name is non village specific, will not cause friction between neighbours and moreover is in common usage and reflects the character of the district in which the parishes are located. Furthermore it is the name that 5 out of the 9 parishes relate to in the present warding pattern and indeed, Wayland Prison is at the centre of the village of . Two parishes are devoid of population by virtue of their location in the battle ground.

There is a Wayland Group Ministry that comprises the following parish churches:  Breckles  Merton  Caston   Thompson  Griston

Stow Bedon and Breckles, whilst having separate churches are one parish administratively, and all the above share one minister, Father Bob Nichols. Thus out of the nine proposed parishes for the Wayland ward, six are as above, is part of a different benefice and the remaining two are located in the battle ground.

Breckland Council Page 30 05/09/13

Electorate Area Electorate Total Number of Electors +/- Number Electorate councillors per Councillor Caston 376 2260 1 2260 +6% Griston 482 Hockham 467 Merton 92 Stow Bedon 270 Thompson 290 Wretham 283

Conclusion The Council will be pleased to provide any further information which the Boundary Commission requires, and looks forward to the opportunity to comment on the Commissions Proposals in January 2014.

Breckland Council Page 31 05/09/13 Guist Colkirk

Gateley Twyford

Whissonsett Weasenham Bintree Horningtoft St Peter North Wellingham Elmham Foxley Colkirk Brisley Billingford

Weasenham Tittleshall Upper Wensum Stanfield All Saints Bawdeswell

Rougham Sparham Bylaugh Beetley Mileham Litcham

Lexham Lincoln Lyng Swanton Beeston Elsing Kempstone Longham Morley Lyng Hoe Great Newton Dunham

Hockering North Launditch Gressenhall Tuddenham South Dereham Acre Little Fransham Wendling Narford Dunham

Scarning Dereham Narborough Sporle East Narborough Tuddenham Yaxham Mattishall Necton Mattishall Bradenham Swaffham Necton Saham Whinburgh Swaffham Shipdham

Beachamwell Holme Hale Blackwater North Garvestone Pickenham Fen

Cranworth Cockley South Hardingham Cley Pickenham

Ashill

Ovington

Carbrooke Great Gooderstone Saham Cressingham Toney Templar Oxborough Watton Scoulton Watton Hilborough Foulden Little Little Cressingham Ashill Ellingham Griston Merton Caston

Great Didlington Ickburgh Ellingham Thompson Tottington Besthorpe Rocklands

Stow Bedon Attleborough Stanford Cranwich Attleborough Sturston

Mundford Shropham

Wayland Hockham Old Chase All Buckenham Lynford Saints Wretham Buckenhams New Weeting Buckenham Snetterton and Quidenham Roudham Banham

Banham

Croxton

Bridgham

Kenninghall

Kilverstone Heathlands Harling

Thetford North Garboldisham Lopham Brettenham Thetford Riddlesworth Kenninghall

South Lopham Blo'Norton

Title Scale COPYRIGHT This map is reproduced from Breckland Council 1:48,901 Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance BRECKLAND Date Elizabeth House Survey on behalf of the / Controller of Her Majesty's Walpole Loke ??? Stationery Office © Crown Dereham Project / Details Drawn by / Department copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown NR19 1EE ??? copyright and may lead to - prosecution or civil proceedings. Drawing / Reference Number Breckland District Council Tel. 01362 656870 - Fax. 01362 656297 licence no.100019535. ??? Published 2005.