Local Government Boundary Commission For Report No,269 LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BOUNDARY COMMISSION

FOR ENGLAND

REPORT NO. LOCAL COVERNKRNT BOUNDARY COMMISSION TOR ENGLAND

CHAIRMAN Sir Edmund Compton GCB KBE.

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN Mr J M Rankin GC

MEMBERS Lady Bowden Mr J T Brockbank Professor Michael Chisholm Mr R R Thornton CB DL Sir Andrew Wheatley CBE To the Ht lion Merlyn Rees, MP Secretary of State for the Home Department

PROPOSAL TOR FUTURE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF III THL COUNTY OK

1. We, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Knglahd, having carried out our initial review of the electoral arrangements for the , in accordance with the requirements of section 63 of, and Schedule 9 to, JShe

Local Government Act 1972, present our proposals for the future electoral arrangements for that city.

2. In accordance with the procedure laid down in section 60(1) and (2) of the

1972 Act, notice was given on 19 August 197^ that we were to undertake this review. This was incorporated in a consultation letter addressed to the Carlisle

City Council, copies of which were circulated to the Cumbria County Council, parish councils and parish meetings in the district, the Members of Parliament for the constituencies concerned and the headquarters of the main political parties. Copies were also Gent to the editors of the local newspapers circulating in the area and- of the local government press, Notices inserted in the local press announced the start of the review and invited comments from members of the public and from interested bodies*

3. The Carlisle City Council were invited to prepare a draft scheme of representa- tion for our consideration. When doing so, they were asked to observe the rules laid down in Schedule 11 to the Local Government Act 1972, and the guidelines which we set out in our Report No 6 about the proposed size of the council and the proposed number of councillors for each, ward.. They were also asked to take into account any views expressed to them following their consultation with local interests. V/e therefore asked that they should publish details of their provisional proposals about a month before they submitted their draft scheme to us, thus: allowing an opportunity for local comment.

4. The Council have passed a resolution under section ?W(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 requesting the Secretary of State to provide for a system of elections by thirds.

5. On 11 February 1975 the Carlisle City Council presented their draft scheme of representation. They proposed to divide the area of the district into 23 wards, each 'returning -from 1 to 3 members -to give a council of 5*K

6. We considered the draft scheme submitted by the Council together with the comments wo had received about it and various alternative proposals which had been submitted. We noted that the Council's draft scheme had caused some local dissatisfaction; we.noted also that it might cause difficulties in providing compatibility with 'future county electoral divisions. We decided therefore to base our draft proposals on one of the alternative schemes, 'bat with a re-grouping of parishes in part-of the"rural area to" accord more nearly with local wishes. We formulated our draft proposals accordingly.

7. On 2 March 197&, we issued our draft proposals and these were sent to all who had received our consultation letter and to those who had made comments. The Council were asked to make these draft proposals, and the accompanying maps which defined the proposed ward boundaries, available for inspection at their main offices. Representations on our draft proposals were invited from those to whom they were circulated and, by public notices, from members of the public and interested bodies. We asked that any comments should reach us by 3 May 1976. 8* We received some support for parts of our draft proposals; but a number of alternative arrangements were suggested in the comments. We considered that we needed further information to enable us to reach a conclusion. Therefore, in accordance with section 65(2) of the 1^72 Act and at our request, Mr J P Aspden,OBE, was appointed d-s Assistant Commissioner to hold a local meeting and report to us*

9. The Assistant Commissioner held the meeting at Carlisle on 25 November 19?6 and thereafter visited the areas which were the subject of dispute* A copy of his report to us is attached at Schedule 1 to this report.

10. The Assistant Commissioner recommended that our draft proposals should be confirmed subject to modifications to the areas of the Urban, , ot Aidanc, Denton Holme, Harraby, Botcherby, Currock and Trinity wards. All these wards lie in the urban area of the City.

11. We reviewed our draft proposals in the light of the comments which we had received and of the Assistant Commissioner's report. We noted that the Assistant Commissioner's recommendations would generally improve the standard of representation in the urban area and would meet objections to the breaking of local ties. We concluded that we should accept the modifications which the Assistant Commissioner had recommended. Subject to these modifications, therefore, we hereby confirm our draft proposals as our final proposals.

12. Details of these final proposals are set out in Schedules 2 and 3 to this report and on the attached maps. Schedule 2 gives the names of the wards and the number of councillors to be returned by each. Schedule 3 shows the order of retirement of councillors. The boundaries of the new wards are defined on the attached maps. PUBLICATION

13« In accordance with Section 60(5)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 a copy 'of this report and copies of the maps are being sent to Carlisle City

Council and will be available for public inspection at the Council offices at

Carlisle. Copies of this report (without maps) are also being sent to those who received the consultation letter and to those who made comments. A detailed description of the boundaries of the proposed wards as defined on the maps is set out in Schedule 4 to this report* L.S.

Signed

EDMUND COMFTON (CHAIRMAN)

JOHN M RANKIN (DHFUTY CHAIRMAN)

PHYLLIS BOWDKN

J T BROCKBANK

MICHAEL CinSHOLM

H R THORNTON

ANDHEW WHEATLEY

N DIGNEY (Secretary)

May 1977 } SCHEDULE 1 LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND REPORT OF ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER TO THE COMMISSION REVIEW OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS - CITY OF CARLISLE

1. On 2 March 1976 the Commission sent notice of their draft proposals for the future electoral arrangements for the City of Carlisle to the City Council and others.

2. The City Council had submitted a scheme for a 5*t member council but comments received by the Commission had showed that there was considerable local opposition to that scheme and support for a 51 member scheme which had been prepared by the Town Clerk and submitted to the Council for consideration. The Commission had decided to base their draft proposals on the Town Clerk's 51 member scheme, which had been sent to them by the Carlisle Conservative Association together with the Association's own proposals. Some modifications had been suggested in the comments received by the Commission, who made some modifications of their own, some of which followed proposals in the City Council's scheme, the result being that the Commission's draft proposals constituted a hybrid scheme. 3. Publication of the draft proposals resulted in the following comments being made:

Comment 1 The City Council objected to the draft proposals, giving detailed criticism of some of the boundaries and resubmitted their original draft scheme.

Comment 2 The Carlisle Constituency Labour Party supported the City Council in their objections to the draft proposals and supported the City Council's .1 original scheme and called for a local meeting.

Comment 3 . The Conservative and Allied Independent Group on the City Council dissociated themselves from the Council's comments but would like their own suggested modifications re-considered.

Comment 4 The Carlisle Conservative Association restated (and ^+~a} their earlier views, amounting mainly to a number of proposed boundary amendments to urban wards. Comment 5 The Cumbria County Council drew attention to the extent of anticipated development in and around certain town wards* Comment 6 The Arthuret Parish Council expressed satisfaction with the draft proposals.

4. Having been appointed an Assistant Commissioner by the Secretary of State for the Home Department,Pat the request of the Commission, for the purpose I held a local meeting at the Civic Centre, Carlisle, on 25 November 1976, at 10.JO am to hear representations on the draft proposals of the Commission and to discuss alternative arrangements variously proposed and affecting the district as a whole.

5. Attached at Annex A is a list of names and addresses of those attending and the interests they represented.

6. The Town Clerk" (Mr W Hirst) stated that he had not been instructed by the City Council to make any representations at the meeting.

7* Representations concerning the draft proposals (a) URBAN AREA (i) Opposing the draft proposals, Mr 1 Stockdale, a member of the City Council Labour Group, other members of that Group, Labour Party members of the Cumbria County Council and members of the Carlisle and the Penrith and the Border Constituency Labour Parties made the following points:

Generally The draft proposals appeared to have been formulated upon an unfortunate assumption that 12 wards should be the norm for the urban area as there were 12 county council members for that area. At present the 10 wards in the urban area produced serious community and boundary anomalies, but Mr Stockdale hoped to demonstrate that the urban area into 12 would not go. Therefore it would be wrong to allow county council division^ requirements, or what might appear to be such at this stage, to influence for the worse the district requirements. The Commission were precluded by para. 3 of Sched. 9 of the Local Government Act 1972 from reviewing county council electoral arrangements until after all the orders for the districts in the county had been made.

Belah Although the same boundaries were in the draft City scheme the south east boundary might be criticised as unsatisfactory as it split a clearly defined settlement by the use of Beechvood Avenue, even though in the long term this boundary could be rationalised when extensive housing development, now proceeding very slowly, eventually filled in the Terraby area.

Stanwix Urban and St Aidan's Purely arbitrary boundaries had been used splitting settlements and communities, examples being Vlhiteclosegate and the East Botchergate area (which actually divided a housing action area on which the Council was acting at the present time)* No community ties could be said to exist betwen East Botchergate and the Stanwix or Wniteclosegate areas*

Botcherb? and Harraby The draft proposals had not recognised the housing development now taking place at Durranhill where approximately 2^0 houses would give 600 plus additional electors while a proposal to build 70 houses at Wood Street still remained in the Council's programme though not selected for immediate implementation* The projected electorate of Botcherby in 1980 was 5100, 700 more than the average, and the Commission had failed to carry, out the provisions of Sched* 11 of the Act requiring the ratio of electors to councillors to be as nearly as may be the same in every ward. Equally, if not more serious, than this immediate electoral imbalance was the proposal arbitrarily to split off part of the Harraby estate and lump it with Botcherby, there b.eing a distinct physical and community gulf between the two estates. The proposal definitely did not respect the local ties and ignored the fact that Harraby was a largely self-contained community with its own established community activities - places of worship, community centre, bus route, shops etc. The chairman of Harraby Community Centre actually lived in the part of Harraby to be split away. The draft proposals also provided a poor southerly boundary for Harraby by the use of Welsh Road and Baird Road.

Upperby The draft proposals had excluded the former Petteril

-3- ward completely, consisting mainly of a pr-war housing

estate and therefore a long established communityt with its .own community centre, shops and bus route* They tacked on

to Upperby part of the Petteril Bank estate, thus denying the physical boundary of the southern rail link.

Currock Boustead's Grassing and Maryport Cottages, which naturally looked to Penton Holme, still remained under the draft proposals in Currock*

Denton Holme The ward croese* .Victoria Viaduct in the north east, breaching the natural boundary of the ward* The draft proposals also split away on the north side the small area consisting of Charlotte Street and Milbourne Street which had a local affinity to Denton Holme and not to Caldewgate or Trinity ward. Both sides of the proposed boundary along Junction Street and Charlotte Street were currently affected by slum clearance programmes and demolition work was now proceeding on both sides of this line. The Council intended to use this area for housing and when other matters of transport policy had been settled Charlotte Street and its present line could quite easily disappear in a new housing layout. The Council's proposal to follow tjie river from Victoria Viaduct to Caldewgate Bridge was therefore preferable. The isolated property Irving Place near the southerly boundary of this ward was more closely connected with the adjoining Cummersdale Rural Parish and should be added to the rural ward which included that parish*

Trinity The use of an irregular boundary near Parham Beck was criticised as the brook has now been piped.

(ii) Supporting the draft proposals Mr R Unwin, a member of the City Council Conservative Group, other members of that Group and members of the Carlisle and the Penrith and the Border Conservative Associations made the following points:

Generally Although they would welcome further consideration of the modifications on points of detail they had previously suggested to the Commission, the Group, which since the last elections had had 22 members of the City Council (the

others being 22 Labour 3 Independents and 1 Liberal), supported

the draft proposals as ones which had been based on the impartial

proposals of the Town Clerk.

Botcherby Mr Unwin suggested that there would be an increased population of more than 660 due to the building of over 200 two bedroom houses but he anticipated a loss as a result of the possible closure of St Joseph's Home. (In reply the possible closure of St Joseph's Home was questioned by Mr E Mart lew, a Labour Party member of the Cumbria County Council and another Labour Party member claimed that the Home electorate was only

(b) RURAL AREA

(i) Opposing the draft proposals Mr Stockdale and the other Labour Party opponents of the urban area draft proposals made the following points:

Generally Alternative proposals had been put forward and would be pressed as more suitable including the transfer of Parish to the urban area*

Stanwix Rural This ward was of unmanageable length.

Arthuret The continued linkage of Kirkandrews and Arthuret Parishes was criticised on the ground that Kirkandrews would be better linked with the Kingmoor and Rockcliffe Parishes. (In reply to a comment that Rockcliffe and Kirkandrews were on opposite banks of the River £sk it was said that the two parishes were linked by a bridge).

(ii) Supporting -the draft proposals Mr Unwin and the other Conservative supporters of the urban area draft proposals made the following points:

Generally Like those for the urban area the draft proposals for the rural area had been impartially prepared.

-5- Stanvix Rural The inclusion of Kingmoor Parish in this ward was supported by Mr A R Weldon, a Stanvix Rural Ward councillor, who replied to the criticism that the ward was of unmanageable length by claiming that it was served by two good spinal roads, one of which came from Irthington, where he lived, through the ward to the city.

Dalston Mr J B V Porter, a Dalston Ward councillor, had reservations as to the loss of Cummersdale and Orton Parishes from this ward and the reduction in its representation to one member, and he claimed that these parishes were served by the school at Dalston, which they regarded as their local centre* (iii) Support to the draft proposals under which Stanwix Rural Parish would remain in Stanwix Rural Ward was given by Mrs P E Fitzgerald and Mrs J R Little, two Stahwix Rural Parish councillors. (iv) A letter was read from the Dalston Pariah Council stating that even after the proposed transfer of Cummersdale and Orton Parishes to Burgh Ward the Dalston

Council considered the size of Dalston Paris** h with 'i villages scattered over a wide area, would still merit the services of two district councillors if the ward was to be adequately represented. (v) A note was read from the Heads Nook and District Villagers Association suggesting the creation of a separate Heads Nook Parish should be created to include Broadwath and

-6- Faugh with a total estimated population in 2 or 3 years time of about 800. The village was presently divided between Wetheral and flayton Parishes and in its present state the village being on the fringe of both parishes it was felt the villagers interests were never fully taken into account. Alternatively, if the formation of a Heads . Nook Parish would not be feasible the whole village including Broadwath should be included in Hayton Parish. The Association felt £hat action must be taken now, before electoral boundary proposals become substantive, so that the village was not left in its present state, thereby causing further dissatisfaction and frustration.

8. Representations concerning the City Council's alternative proposals.

Supporting the alternative proposals Mr Stockdale and the other Labour Party opponents of the draft proposals made the following points:

Generally The alternative proposals involving basically the transfer of Stanwix Rural Parish to the urban area and its division into 13 wards were put forward with the claim that the City Council had approached the exercise wholly within the spirit of Schedule 11 of the Act. The requirement that the ratio of electors should be as nearly as may be the same in every ward of the district brought in the question of rural weighting, and while the alternative proposals did reduce the rural weighting from approximately .200 at present to approximately 100 they did not go as far as the draft proposals (approximately 60) but preferred in some small way to recognise the problems of communication and representation in a large sparsely populated area.

(a)PRBAN AREA

Belab Same as in draft proposals, subject to additional comments in previous representations on those proposals.

Stanwix The alternative proposals for this ward were an imaginative exercise in forging closer bonds between

-7- urban and rural interests. Incorporating Stanwix Rural Parish, into this ward was compatible with the close historical and social links with Stanwix village. With the proposed housing development in the area these two areas would eventually be linked up. The proposal obviated dividing and would provide useful information on further future integrations of urban and rural areas on a less sharply defined basis than at present. The inclusion of the existing Eden compartment BB was that of a declining compartment and it was arguable whether it should be incorporated in St Aldan's ward to give a clear boundary at Eden Bridge*

St Aidan's The alternative proposals retained as much as possible in one unit of Victorian terraced housing - generally an area with common problems of obsolete layout and lack of modern amenities (play* areas, community centres, day care provisions), traffic management problems and landscape deficiencies. The proposed activity of housing action area would benefit from common representation by local councillors for the whole area under discussion. It would also help if housing action area activity extended into the adjacent areas. The transfer from Harraby ward of the Trevor Street and Summerhill area, which had no affinity with that ward, to St Aidan's allowed the use of the easily defined boundary of Petteril Bridge.

Botcherby In support of the proposal to attach the bulk of the existing St Aidan's compartment CB to Botcherby that area was claimed to have closer links with the Greystone/ Warwick Road areas. Botcherby Community Centre was at the junction of Warwick Road and Victoria Road, midway between Botcherby village and Greystone Road. The farm complex on Greystone Road was called Botcherby Hill, and the bridge on Warwick Road was called Botcherby Bridge. For religious worship Botcherby looked to the churches on Warwick Road* The only primary school at Botcherby was Roman Catholic and Our Lady and St Joseph's Church on Warwick Road was the parish church. What could not be stressed too strongly was the use in the alternative proposals of the undeniable physical boundary of the Newcastle Railway Line and Road Bridge between the Harraby and Botcherby areas. Upon that assumption rested the rational warding arrangements for the whole south side of the city. Mr Stockdale claimed a personal special knowledge of the St Aidan's/Botcherby area, having been born and raised in the Greystone district and now representing the area as a county councillor.

Harraby, Petteril. Upperby and Currock Between the physical boundaries of the Newcastle Railway Line and the Maryport Line (East and West respectively) on the south side of the urban area there were approximately 16,500 electors, giving numerically four possible wards* In particular the alternative proposals in respect of (a) Harraby used as boundaries the Newcastle Railway Line and (on the west side) the A6 main road and the main bus route through Curawhinton Road and Edgehill Road;

(b) Petteril used as boundaries the A6 terminating at Petteril Bridge and on the west side the main southern (London) Railway Line which was the undeniable boundary, merging with the river alongside the railway yards to terminate at the Petteril River Bridge; and (c) Upperby and Currock, recognising there were two distinct communities of Upperby and Currock together lying between the Southern Rail Link and the Maryport Link, had found a more sensitive dividing boundary between the two proposed wards than did the draft proposals. The alternative proposals for these four wards were claimed to retain, using clear physical boundaries, the four distinct and accepted communities on the south side of the city.

DentonHolme The alternative proposals amended the draft proposals to deal with the unsatisfactory features criticised in the representations against those proposals so far as the Currock and Denton Holme wards were concerned*

Trinity Instead of the irregular boundary line near Parham Beck the alternative proposals used the recognised main streets of Raffles Avenue and Creighton Avenue and a more sensitive boundary line had been drawn. Morton, Yewdale and Belle Vue Minor changes had been made to the draft proposals intended in a number of instances to keep opposite sides of estate roads in the same ward. Electors liked to go to the polls in company with neighbours who might not necessarily live next door but across the road* (b)RURAL AREA

Action in the rural area was restricted by the requirement to include whole parishes, which begged the question would it not have been better to plan a revision of parish boundaries prior to district ward boundary revision* Examination of the present boundaries had revealed a serious anomaly which really could not be ignored and that was that Kingmoor and Burgh by Sands were in the same ward even though to travel between the two parishes necessitated coming into Carlisle and out again* Another striking anomaly was the association of the parishes of Scaleby and Irthington with Sockcliffe - a curious east-west relationship when the obvious lines of communication and affiliation Are north-south* Rockcliffe and Kirkandrews Parishes had a natural affinity of interest with the Solway Firth and coastal and fishing interests. • The Lyne ward (Bewcastle) was recognised as a huge geographical area, being agricultural, and representation by only one councillor must have been extremely difficult. The alternative proposals recognised that, and by the addition of Scaleby and Irthington Parishes (700 electors) were able to increase the representation to two councillors, also containing the ward between the mainly urban settlements of Brarapton in the east and Longtown (Arthuret) in the west. The acceptance of the above principles and that previously explained concerning Stanwix Rural Parish really set the pattern of boundary revision for the whole rural area, bearing in mind the inherent inflexibility of the requirements* The rural members of the City Council only moved one amendment to the Council's original draft proposals, that being to move the parish of Walton from Lyne ward to Irthing ward. This was accepted and included in the alternative proposals. The inclusion of Kingmoor Rockcliffe and Kirkandrews in one ward on a north south axis was particularly supported by

.10- Mr R N Home as was the addition of Stanwix Rural Parish to the urban area, by reason of the fact that the bulk of the electorate was in Houghton and the immediate fringes of Carlisle.

(ii)Opposing the alternative proposals Mr Unwin and the other Conservative supporters of the urban area draft proposals made the following points:-

Generally It would be quite inappropriate in view of the size and rural nature of Stanwix Rural Parish to add it to the urban area. Such a step would also entail the election of a parish council for only part of a ward and would divide a ward between two parliamentary constituencies*

(a)URBAN AREA

Botcherby The alleged close tie up between St Aidan's existing compartment CB and the Botcherby was disputed.

Harraby Petteril Upperby and Currock The claim that the boundaries of these four proposed southerly wards were all clearly defined was disputed.

Dentonholme and Trinity It was contended that the alternative proposals did not provide consistently natural and physical boundaries*

(b)RURAL AREA

Wetheral This proposed ward was said to be ludicrous on the ground- that it extended the whole way from urban Carlisle to the Pennines.

(iii)The proposal to add Stanwix Rural Parish to the urban area was strongly opposed by the Stanwix Rural Parish Councillors Mrs Fitzgerald and Mrs Little, who contended that it would be quite inappropriate in view of the size and rural area of the parish* The village of Houghton in which they lived was quite a separate community from that of the city and

-11 • the villages of Linstock and Crosby were even more distant and unconnected with the city's urban area. It would be quite wrong for the rural parish largely farming electorate to be swamped by the urban electorate in the choice of a councillor. (iv)The alternative proposals and particularly the proposed transfers of Stanwix Rural Parish to the urban area and of Kirkandrews Parish from Arthuret ward were criticised and opposed by Mr H I H Jones* a representativeof the National Farmers Union*

9* Relationship of draft proposals and alternative proposals to future county electoral divisions.

(i) The following comments were made by Mr G 0 White, an officer of the Legal and Administrative Services Department of the Cumbria County Council, At present the Carlisle District returned 17 county councillors, giving, with an electorate of 74,197 (1975 figures) an average representation of 1:4365 compared with the overall county average of 1:428?. 12 of the 17 were from 8 divisions in the area of the former Carlisle county borough (the urban area) and the other 5 were from 5 divisions in the rest of the district area (the rural area). In the urban area 6 divisions coinciding with the district wards of Stanwix,

Eden, St Aidan's, TrinitytMorton and Belle Vue each returned 1 county councillor and 2 divisions composed respectively of the district wards of Harraby plus Petteril and Currock plus Denton Holme each returned 3 county councillors* Some alterations would be needed as Section 6(2) (a) of the Act required each county division to return only 1 councillor. On the basis of existing electoral arrangements therefore there would need to be 12 county divisions in Carlisle each returning 1 county councillor. The electorates of the Harraby/Petteril Division (11,435) and of the Currock/Denton Holme Division (10,055) were both on the low side merely to form 6 single member divisions and a wider

-12- review therefore seemed necessary. The county divisions in the rural area were compatible with the existing district wards. The Commission had indicated that a county council membership of up to 82 (the present number) would be acceptable. The County Council had also indicated that they would wish to retain the present number of 82. No consideration had yet been given to the review of the county electoral arrangements as such. However the Council would probably wish to make as little change as possible at the county review consistent with the rules laid down in the Act and the principles enunciated by the Commission. While the matter had still to be considered it was likely that the County Council would think in terms of there continuing to be 17 councillors from the Carlisle District area, in which the average electorate per member was *v365 which was quite close to the county average of ^28?. The City Council's alternative proposals provided for 13 district wards in the urban area (including Stanwix Rural Parish) and 10 in the rural area (excluding Stanwix Rural Parish) The City Council had asked the County Council to agree to the County representation of the District being increased to 18, with each of the 13 urban wards becoming a county division. This suggestion had not been accepted by the County Council* so there would almost certainly be a degree of incompatibility between-the county and district arrangements in that area. All 13 wards proposed were about 4000 or more so that two could not simply be merged to form a county division. The 10 wards and 5 county divisions proposed by the City Council in the rural area would involve several changes in the existing pattern, and in particular would create a very large division extending from Kingwater to Westlinton on an east/west axis and from Bewcastle to Midgeholme on a north/south axis. It would also perpetuate a division crossing the Eden estuary. The County Council would not be happy with a revision on those lines. The wards proposed by the City Council would make it difficult to arrange

-13- county divisions which were reasonably compatible and at the same time had reasonably balanced electorates and reasonable areas. Because Stanwix Rural Parish was taken out of the reckoning the County Council would be starting with an average of members to electorate of about 1:3950 which was on the low side in relation to the county average and which could be avoided. The Commission*s draft proposals for 12 wards in the urban area would seem to provide a way in which new county divisions could be formed although there might be other ways and the county review could not be anticipated. In the rural area the draft proposals produced one incompatibility with the present county divisions, namely, where the division boundary ran through the proposed Burgh ward. However, the Commission's use of the River Eden estuary as a boundary seemed sensible, amd Mr White thought the County Council would have wanted to look at that point in any event because the estuary was a natural barrier through the present Division, one having to go through Carlisle to get from the southern part to the northern part. The County Council did not wish to make any particular observations on the draft proposals, but felt that attention should be drawn to anticipated development within or adjacent to the proposed Belah, Stanwix Urban and Botcherby wards. Substantial development had been planned for some time.on the Kingstown/Tarraby area part of which would be in the Belah and Stanwix Urban wards, extending into the Stanwix Rural area*

There were problems in getting county divisions which were fully balanced electorally in the rural area because (a) of the River Eden estuary and its effect on communications in the area west of the city; (b) there was a degree of concentration of population on the southerly and easterly sides of the urban area and (c) there were quite large and sparsely populated areas in that rural area*

(ii) The following comments were made by Mr E Martlew, a Labour Party member of the Cumbria County Council:

The Carlisle District was under represented on the County Council ae was shown by the electoral ratio 1:^365 for the district against an average of 1:428? for the whole county

-Hf- He drew attention to the low electorates of Shap (2900) Lowther (2300) and Alston (1500). There was scope and justification for the allocation of 18 county council divisions to the district and for the County Council in their electoral review to give effect to this by a slight increase in the council membership and/or an adjustment of the boundaries of other divisions as had already been suggested by the Cumbria Labour Party to the County Council.

10* I made private inspections of the district before and after the meeting and having considered the representations made and information given at the meeting my views and recommendations follow.

11. A basic element of the City Council's alternative proposals under which the urban area is divided into 13 wards is the proposed transfer-of Stanwix Rural Parish to that area from the rural area* There is no reason why in the case of a district like Carlisle which has been created by the merger of a rural area with an urban area.the ward electoral arrangements should not involve a merger of an adjoining parish with the urban area, particularly if the pariah has acquired an urban character and its size is not disproportionate, but the suitability of such a merger needs to be considered by reference to the relative characteristics of the parish and urban area. Stanwix Rural Parish contains residential areas comparatively near to the urban area, and the Whiteclosegate houses are immediately adjacent to it, but the parish also covers a large farming area, stretching a considerable distance from the urban area. In my opinion the parish remains mainly rural in its nature and its size and other characteristics are not such as to justify its merger with the urban area for the purposes of this review. Such a merger is even less justified when there is taken into account, as was conceded by Mr Stockdale, that the City Council's alternative proposals, of which the transfer of Stanwix Rural Parish is an important factor, do not provide for the district as a whole a ratio of electors to councillors more nearly tfcha oue in

-15- every ward of the district than the Commission's draft proposals, insofar as the latter reduce the rural weighting to a greater degree. In these circumstances I do not recommend the implementation of the City Councilfs alternative 5^ member proposals.

12. Having considered the Commission's draft proposals creating 12 urban and 11 rural wards returning 36 and 15 members respectively in light of the criticisms made of them I recommend the implementation of those proposals subject to the following amendments> the references to electoral compartments being to those of the existing wards: URBAN AREA (i) Transfer portion of AC on northeasterly side of Scotland Road to Stanwix Urban from Belah Although the draft proposal for the Belah/Stanwix Urban boundary accorded with both the Town Clerk's and City Council's schemes some criticism was expressed and I believe my recommendation will help" to balance the electorates of the two wards within the period to be covered by the present review, (ii) Transfer portion of BC on southeasterly side of Rydal Street to St. Aidan's from Stanwix Urban In view of the comprehensive attention suggested for the Botchergate East area this amendment is intended to meet the objection to the area being divided for electoral purposes. (iii) Transfer portion of CA on northwesterly side of Broad Street and southwesterly side of Lismore Street and Lismore Place to Stanwix Urban from St. Aidan's In consequence of amendment (ii) this is suggested to compensate Stanwix Urban. (iv) Transfer portion of FA to Stanwix Urban from Denton Holme Both parties considered that the former Currock compartment FA should not be divided, the Labour representatives allocating it to Upperby and the Conservatives to Stanwix Urban. I agree and in view of my other recommendations consider a better balance of electorate would be given by an allocation to Stanwix Urban.

-16- (v) Transfer portion of DB on westerly side of Linden Terrace and southerly side of Pennine Way to Harraby from Botcherby

The purpose of this is to meet the criticism that the draft proposals for Botcherby would creaie a serious imbalance at the outset. The second criticism that the proposals involved the transfer of a substantial part of the Harraby estate to this ward, notwithstanding the physical separation of the two parts of the ward,has some substance. 1 feel, however, that while the two parts of the proposed Botcherby ward are separated by the railway and Durranhill Road they are sufficiently near to one another in distance and character that they can properly be included in the same ward. I considered the strong plea, made for the continued linkage of St Aidan's ward with Botcherby but observed that hore too there was a degree of separation notwithstanding the past electoral linkage* It must also be borne-in mind that the existing Harraby ward would not have been preserved in its present form Mnder the alternative proposals under which part would be allocated to the suggested Petteril ward.

(vi) Transfer ^portion of^FC (including Boustead's Grassing and Maryport Cottages) on westerly side of railway (as shown on City Council's alternative proposals) to Denton Holme from Currock

This amendment meets the Labour representatives1 claim concerning the properties mentioned. Although separated from Denton Holme ward by the River Caldew their connection with that ward seems closer than that with Currock ward.

(vii) Transfer portion of GA on easterly side of Shaddongate to Denton Holme from Trinity

This amendment meets the Labour representatives' criticism of the Junction Street - Charlotte Street boundary between Denton Holme and Trinity wards and also meets in part the Conservative representatives* criticism of the boundary between those wards. The amendments (i) to (vii) are recommended subject to such minor boundary alterations as may be advised by the Ordnance Survey to procure technically better boundaries* RURAL AREA

No amendment recommended

13. I offer the following comments concerning representations on which I am not making recommendation to amend the draft proposals*

URBAN AREA

(i) Area betwen Newcastle and Mary port Railway Lines

The creation of four wards in this area with a total electorate of about 16,500 as advocated by the Labour representatives cannot be reconciled with a 12 ward urban area with an average electorate of over

(ii) Harraby (Trevor Street and Summerhill)

Although not without some merit, the proposed transfer of this area to St Aidan's ward does not on balance seem to be justified.

(iii) Denton Holme (Irving Place)

Although this property is in an isolated position on the boundary of Denton Holme and Cummersdale Rural Parish, I see no justification for transferring it to the rural ward which includes Cummersdale.

(iv) Trinity (boundary near Parham Beck)

Although this boundary follows an irregular course, to adopt the Baffles Avenue, Creighton Avenue, Mar dale Road boundary would involve an appreciable transfer of electorate for which no other justification is apparent.

RURAL AREA

(i) Generally I have not recommended the implementation of the City Council's proposal to transfer Stanwix Rural Parish to the urban area, and as that was an essential feature of the City Council's alternative proposals for the remainder of the rural area, those proposals, including the creation of a

-18- Kingmoor Rockcliffe and Kirkandrews ward, a two member Lyne ward and three member Wetheral ward are not recommended by me. (ii) Dalston • The plea of the Dalston Parish Council for a continued two member representation of the Dalston ward cannot be justified by the siae of its electorate. (ii) HeadsNook Village The plea of the Heads Nook and District Villagers' Association for the creation of a separate Heads Nook Parish is not a matter with which I can deal nor is the alternative suggestion to transfer the part of Heads Nook now in Wetheral Parish to the Hayton Parish (and Hayton ward), notwithstanding the concern of the Association for action to be taken before electoral ward boundary proposals bedome substantive.

1*u As regards other'representations (mostly of a minor character) made at the meeting or previously to the Commission 1 do not wish to make any recommendation or comment.

15* The implementation of the draft proposals, subject to any amendments made in consequence of my recommendations, insofar as they contemplate 12 urban and 11 rural wards would seem to be compatible with the continued existence of 1? county electoral divisions. The 12 urban wards could each constitute a division and the 11 rural wards can be grouped in 5 divisions as indicated by the County Council representative at the meeting. It seems true that the Carlisle district is slightly under represented when compared with other districts but presumably this may be a matter for consideration when the county electoral arrangements are reviewed. I am not satisfied that there is any need for the size of the City Council to be increased further from 51 to $k or any sufficient justification for enlarging the Carlisle urban area by the inclusion of Stanwix Rural Parish to facilitate such an increase*

16* 1 have considered the matters raised at the meeting in the knowledge that two years have elapsed since the review began and that intervening events «ay have affected the electorate forecasts then made. The County Council drew the attention of the Commission to the extent of anticipated development in and around certain urban wards. I have been informed that the latest position concerning that development is that the 'following planning applications for new houses to be erected before 1980 have been approved - Belah and Stanwix wards - Lowry Hill (Laing) 140 and (Nixon) 12,Eden Street (City Council) 53. Kingstown/

Tqrraby (Laing) 1^0 and (Eden) 1*tO - and Botcherby ward (Durranhill) (City Council) 236. I understand that the Eden Street and Durranhill properties will be completed before 19^0 but because of the present financial situation the present indications are that very few of the others, especially those on the Kingstown/Tarraby site will be erected in that time. The urban area electorate may therefore prove to be rather less than what was anticipated but not, I believe, to such an extent as to affect the propriety of the amendments which I have proposed should be made to the draft proposals. If such proposals are implemented subject to those amendments I anticipate that in no urban ward will the councillor entitlement be unreasonably greater or less than the number allocated and that the range of councillor entitlement per ward in the urban area will be reduced.

-20- ANNEX A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972 LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOUNDARY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND MEETING TO INQUIRE INTO THE FUTURE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF CARLISLE. List of names and addresses of those attending and the interests they represented. Names Addresses Interests represented

R Armstrong 3 Chatsworth Square Carlisle Labour Party E Martlew k2 Beaumont Road Cumbria County Council T M Bisland 18? Pennine Way Councillor Harraby Ward A R Weldon Irthington District Councillor . Mrs J R Little Lyndhurst, The Knells Stanwix Rural Parish Houghton Councillor Mrs P E Fitzgerald Two Hands Houghton Stanwix Rural Parish Councillor A Walker Carlisle Labour Party Ian Stockdale 59 Deepdale Drive City Council member K Bell 2 Strand Road Carlisle Cumwhitton Parish Cc^unci J B V Porter Sunny Vale High Bridge Penrith and Border Dalston Conservative Association District Councillor Norman R Dent 37 Chiswick Street Penrith and Border and Carlisle Carlisle Conservative Party E R Armitage Dalston Road Carlisle Conservative Carlisle Association J F Long 51 Upperby Road Carlisle Conservative Carlisle Association A Graham 2 Port Road Carlisle Carlisle Labour Group J E Hutton The Courts Carlisle Cumbria County Council G 0 White The Courts Carlisle Cumbria County Council f H I H Jones Bankshill Br amp ton National Farmers Union R.Unwin Birkby House Carlisle Carlisle Conservative Group W Hirst Town Clerk Carlisle R N Home Penrith and Border Labour Party SCHEDULE 2

CITY OK CARLISLE: NAMES OP PROPOSE WARDS AND NUMBERS OF COUNCILLORS

NAME OK WARD NO.OF COUNCILLORS

AHTHURET 2

BELAH 3

BELLE VUE 3

BOTCHERBY 3

BRAMPTON 2

BURGH 1

CURROCK 3

DALSTON 1

DKNTON HOLME 3

GREAT CORBY AND GELTSDALE 1

HAliRABY 3

HAYTON 1

IRTHING 1

LYNE 1

MORTON 3

ST AIDANS 3

ST CUTHBERT WITHOUT 1

STANWIX RURAL 2

STANWIX URBAN 3

TRINITY 3

UPPERBY 3

WETHERAL 2

YE\/DALE 3 SCHEDULE 3

CITY OK CAHUiiLK UIJiCTION BY THIRDS. OR1>£R OF RETIREMENT

t;0. OF COOIICILLOiiS DAME Or WARD j^-;ri^;:>K;:Ti:':a WARD 1ST YEAR 2ND YEAR 3RD ypW- 1981 0 1982 1983 1 PE ARTHUHET 3 - BELAH r 1 1 BELLE VUK i 1 1 1 BOTCHKRBY 3 1 1 1 BRAMPTON 2 1 PE _1 - 1 PE BURGH 1 - CURROCK 3 1 1 1 1 PE - DALSTON 1 - DENTON HOLME 3 1 1 1 1 PE - GREAT CORBY AND GELTSDALfc 1 - HARRABY 3 1 1 1 HAYTON 1 1 PE - - 1 PE IRTHIHG 1 - - - 1 PE , - LYNE 1 - MORTON 3 1 1 1 ST AIDATJS 3 1 1 1 1 PE ST CUTIIRERT WITHOUT 1 - - STANWIX RURAL 2 1 ' 1 PE STANV/IX URBAN - 3 1 1 1 TRINITY 3 1 1 1 UPPKRBY 3 1 1 1 1 WSTHKKAL 2 1 PE - YE17DALE 3 1 1 1 17 17 17

- ' SCHEDULE 4

CITY OF CARLISLE; DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED WARD BOUNDARIES Note: Where the boundary is described as following a road, railway, river, canal or similar feature it should be deemed to follow the centre line of the feature unless otherwise stated.

BELAH WARD Commencing at the point where the River Eden meets the eastern boundary of Kingmoor CP v/here the former Carlisle - Edinburgh railway crosses the said river, thence generally northwards and eastwards along the said boundary to the western boundary of Stanwix Rural CP, thence generally southwards along said boundary and continuing westwards, southwards and eastwards along the northern, western and southern boundaries of the de- tached portion of Kingmoor CP and continuing generally southwards again along the western boundary of Stanwix Rural CP to the northern boundary of parcel No 8700 on OS 1:3500 plan NY 38/3958, edition of 1973 thence westwards along said boundary and southwards along the western boundary of said parcel No 8700 on OS 1:2500 plan NY 38/3957 edition of 1972 to Kingstown Road, thence southeastwards along said road and Scotland Road to Cross Street, thence southwestwards along said street to the stream known as Gosling .Sike, thence southwestwards along said stream and in continuation thereof to the western boundary of No 84 Street, thence continuing southwestwards along said boundary to Etterby Street, thence westwards along said street to Etterby Terrace, thence southwestwards along said terrace and in pro- longation thereof .to the River Eden, thence generally northwestwards west- wards and southwestwards along the said river to the point of commencement.

STANWIX URBAN WARD

Commencing at the point where the southeastern boundary of Belah Ward meets 2 the southwestern boundary of Stanwix Rural CP, thence generally southeast- wards along said CP boundary to the River Eden, thence southwestwards along said river to a point due north of Grid Reference NY 4085056339 at the northern extremity of Catholic Lane, thence due south to said Grid Reference, thence southeastwards and southwestwards along Catholic Lane to the road known as Lismore Place, thence southeastwards along said road and Lismore Street to Broad Street, thence southwestwards along said'Street and Rydal Street to the road known as Botchergate, thence southeastwards along said road and London Road to the Brarapton Junction to Lockerbie railway, thence westwards and northwestwards along said railway to the River Caldew, thence northwards northwestwards and northeastwards along said river to the

River Eden, thence northwards along said river to the southeastern boundary i of Belah Ward, thence generally northwards along said ward boundary to the point of commencement.

ST AIDANS WARD

Commencing at the point where the eastern boundary of Stanwix Urban Ward meets the , thence southeastwards and southwestwards along said river to the Brampton Junction to Lockerbie railway, thence westwards along said railway to the eastern boundary of Stanwix Urban Ward, thence generally northwestwards and northwards along said ward boundary to the point of commencement.

BOTCHERBY WARD Commencing at the point where the northern boundary of St Aidans Ward meets the eastern boundary of Stanwix Urban Ward, thence northeastwards along said eastern boundary to the southwestern boundary of Stanwix Rural CP, i thence southeastwards along said CP boundary and generally southeastwards and 3 southwards along the western boundary of Wetheral CP to the northeastern boundary of Harraby School, thence northwestwards along said boundary and in prolongation thereof to Edgehill Road, thence southwestwards along said road to Linden Terrace, thence generally northwards along said Terrace to Pennine Way, thence southwestwards along said Way to Arnside Road, thence northwestwards along said road to the unnamed road that leads to Durranhill Bridge,.thence northeastwards along said road to the Brampton Junction to Carlisle railway at said bridge, thence westwards along said railway to the eastern boundary of St Aidans Ward, thence northeastwards and northwestwards along the eastern and northern boundaries of said ward to the point of commencement.

HARRABY WARD

Commencing at the point where the southern boundary of Botcherby Ward meets

the western boundary of Wetheral CP, thence southwards along said CP

boundary and generally southwards and northwestwards along the northern

boundary of St Cuthbert Without CP to Welsh Road, thence northwestwards along

said road to Petteril Bank Road, thence southwestwards along said road to

a point opposite the rear boundary of No 2 Baird Road, thence northwestwards

to and along said rear boundary and the rear boundaries.of Nos 10 - 76 Baird

Road, thence southwestwards along the northwestern boundary of the last

mentioned property and in prolongation thereof to the rear boundary of

No 2 Holmacres Drive, thence continuing southwestwards along said rear

boundary and the rear boundaries of Nos 6 - 60 Holmacres Drive, thence

eastwards along the southern boundary of the last mentioned property to .

Holmacres Drive, thence southwards along said drive to Petteril Bank Road,

thence generally southwestwards along said road to the Carlisle to Penrith

railwayt thence northwestwards and northeastwards along said railway to the southern boundary of Stanwix Urban Ward, thence eastwards along said southern boundary and the southern boundary of St Aidans Ward and generally southeastwards, along the western and southern boundary of Botcherby Ward to the point of commencement.

UPPERBY WARD Commencing at the point where the southwestern boundary of Harraby Ward meets the northern boundary of St Cuthbert Without CP thence generally westwards along said CP boundary to Blackwell Road, thence northwards along said road to Henderson Road, thence northeastwards along said road to Buchanan Road, thence northwestwards along said road to Ridley Road, thence northeastwards along said road and in prolongation thereof to the southeastern boundary of No 15 Upperby Road, thence northeastwards along said boundary and the southeastern boundary of Parcel No 802? on Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Plan NY 40 4154 Edition of 1965 and in prolongation thereof to the south- western boundary of Harraby Ward, thence generally southeastwards along said ward boundary to the point of commencement.

CURROCK WARD Commencing at the point where the western boundary of Harraby Ward meets the northwestern boundary of Upperby Ward, thence generally southwestwards along said northwestern boundary to the northern boundary of St Cuthbert Without CP thence generally northwestwards along said CP boundary to the Wigton to Lockerbie railway, thence northeastwards and northwestwards along said railway to the southern boundary of Stanwix Urban Ward, thence east- wards along said ward boundary to the western boundary of Harraby Ward, thence southwestwards and southeastwards along said Ward boundary to the noint of commencement. DENTON HOLME WARD Commencing at the point where the western boundary of Currock Ward meets the northwestern boundary of St Cuthbert Without CP, thence west- wards and southwestwards along said CP boundary to the northern boundary of Cummersdale CP, thence generally westwards along said CP boundary to Dalston Road, thence northeastwards along said road to Bedford Road, thence northwestwards along said road to the stream known as Dow Beck, thence northeastwards along said beck to Stanhope Road, thence northwest- wards along said road to Wigton Road, thence northeastwards along said road to the dismantled railway that crosses the said road thence southeast- wards along said dismantled railway to the road known as Shaddongate, thence northeastwards and .northwards along said road to Bridge Street, thence northeastwards along said street to the south-western boundary of Stanwix Urban Ward, thence southeastwards along said ward boundary to the western boundary of Currock Ward, thence southeastwards and southwestwards along the said western boundary to the point of commencement.

TRINITY WARD Commencing at the point where the southwestern boundary of Stanwix Urban Ward meets the western boundary of Denton Holme Ward, thence generally south-westwards along the western boundary of said ward to Dunmail Drive, thence northwestwards along said drive to Wigton Road, thence northeastwards along said road to Bower Street, thence northwestwards along said street to a point opposite the southeastern boundary of No 58 Bower Street, thence southwestwards to and along said boundary and in prolongation thereof to Mardale Road, thence northwestwards along said road to a point opposite the southeastern boundary of No 8 Mardale Road, thence southweatwards to and along said boundary, thence northwestwards along the rear boundaries of Nos 8-2 Mardale Road, thence westwards along the rear boundaries of 5A

Nos 13 - 17 Brookaide, thence southwards along the rear boundaries of Nos 23 - 27 Brookside. and westwards along the southern boundary of No 27 Brookside, thence southwards, westwards and northwards along the eastern rear and western boundaries of Nos 29 - 31 Brookside, thence westwards and northwards along the southern and rear boundaries of No 33 Brookside and northwards along the rear boundaries of Nos 35 - 37 Brookside, thence westwards along the rear boundaries of Nos **3 - 81 Brookside and south- wards along the rear boundaries of Nos 230 - 226 Raffles Avenue, thence west- wards along the southern boundary of No 226 Raffles Avenue to said avenue, thence northwards along said avenue to Newtown Road, thence westwards along said road to the track known as Engine Lonning, thence northwestwards along said track to the point where it meets the partly dismantled railway, thence northeastwards in a straight line to the point where the District Boundary meets the southern boundary of Belah Ward thence generally northeastwards and southeastwards along said ward boundary to the southwestern boundary of Stanwix Urban Ward, thence generally southeastwards along said ward boundary to the point of commencement.

MORTON WARD Commencing at the point where the southwestern boundary of Trinity Ward meets the western boundary of Denton Holme Ward, thence southwestwards along said western boundary to the northern boundary of Cummersdale CP, thence generally northwestwards along said CP boundary to Wigton Road, thence northeastwards along said road to the southwestern boundary of Trinity Ward, thence southeastwards along said ward boundary to the point of commencement.

YEWDALE WARD Commencing at the point where the northwestern boundary of Morton Ward meets the northern boundary of Cummersdale CP, thence generally northwestwards along said CP boundary and the eastern boundary of Beaumont CP to a point opposite the northern boundary of Parcel No 5872 on Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Plan NY 56-3755 Edition of 1972, thence eastwards to and along said boundary and the northern boundaries of Parcel Nos 6573, 7^73, 8673, and 0376, thence southwards along the eastern boundary of the last mentioned Parcel to a point opposite Parham Beck, thence eastwards to and along said Beck to Marks Avenue, thence southeastwards and eastwards along said avenue to Shady-Grove 7 Road, thence southwards along said road to Orton 3oad, thence southeastwards

along said road to the northwestern boundary of Morton Ward, thsn^c southwest- wards along said boundary to the point of commencement.-

BELLS VUS MOT Commencing at the point whore the western boundary of Trinity Vfard meets

the northern boundary of Yewdale Ward, thence generally northwestwards

along said northern boundary to the eastern boundary of .Beaumont OF, thence

generally northeastwards along said CP boundary to the southern boundary of Kingmoor CP, thence eastwards along said CP boundary to the western

boundary of Trinity Ward,thence generally southwards along: said ward boundary to the point of commencement,

ARTHURET WARD The parishes of Arthuret Kirkandrews

BRAMPTQN WARD

The parish of Brampton

BURGH WARD The parishes of Beaumont Burgh by Sands Cummersdale Orton

DALSTON WARD

The pariah of Dalston

GRflAT CORBY AND. G2LTSDALE WARD

The parishes of Carlatton Castle Carrock Cumrew Cumwhitton Geltsdale and the Great Corby Ward of the parish of We theml HAYTON WARD The parish of Hayton

IRTHIiK; WARD The parishes of Askerton Burtholms ?arlam Kingwater Mi clge holme Nether Denton Upper Denton Waiton Waterhead

LYNE WARD

The parishes of Bewcastle Hethersgill Kirklinton Middle . Nicholforest Solport Stapleton Westlinton

ST GUTH3ERT iVITHOUT V/AHD

The parish of 3t Cuthbert Without

STANWIX RURAL WARD

The parishes of Irthington . Kingrooor (inc-luding- Detached part) ttockcliffe Scaleby Stanwix Rural

WfiTiLiHAL WARD The Gotehill Gcotby Warwick Wetheral Wards of the Darish of Wetheral