Proposal for the Gloucester City Area Supported by the Gloucester City and Gloucestershire County Council Labour Groups
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Proposal for the Gloucester City Area supported by the Gloucester City and Gloucestershire County Council Labour Groups Number of Proposed Divisions: 10 Total Electorate for District in 2010: 89,990 Forecast Electorate for District in 2016: 95,347 Forecast District Average Number of Electors per 9,534 Councillor in 2016: Forecast County Average Number of Electors per 9,220 Councillor in 2016: % Co-terminosity with District Wards 10% Rationale Although guidance showed that we could split boxes where necessary we decided not to do that. We know and understand that the Commission does not have the capacity at present to be able to follow through and rework the city boundaries to match the new country boundaries. We have found in the past that where residents are in one area for voting in one election and in another area for a different election that this causes frustration and confusion, so to simplify matters for the general public, we have kept to the same boxes. It may be perfectly possible (and indeed has happened before) that a city by-election could fall on the County Election Day, which would be a very difficult situation if boxes were split, as residents may be forced to go to two different polling stations to vote in both elections. This is unlikely to happen and would result in a lower turnout at a time when we are seeking to increase resident involvement in elections. As well as confusion to the residents, splitting boxes will increase costs at time when the optimum choice would be to reduce costs. While in some areas these boundaries are not perfect, we have tried wherever possible to match local views on communities and have maintained communities of interest. We have also considered the local partnerships, groups and organisations currently in place and working well. We have also used the natural boundaries that effectively split communities, such as railway lines, streams, major roads and Robinswood Hill, and we have not crossed these. We feel that this plan provides the best result possible for the residents of the City. Electorate Figures for 2010 and Forecast Figures for 2016 Division 2010 2016 Forecast Forecast Electorate Electorate electoral electoral variance variance in (based on 2016 (based the district on the average) county average) G1 10,136 10,166 7% 10% G2 8,766 9,160 -4% -1% G3 10,232 10,326 8% 12% G4 7,302 9,430 -1% 2% G5 8,795 8,859 -7% -4% G6 8,334 8,814 -8% -5% G7 9,311 9,440 -1% 2% G8 10,348 10,349 9% 12% G9 9,220 9,628 1% 4% G10 7,546 9,175 -4% -1% Total 89,990 95,347 Electorate for Gloucester City Gloucester Division GL 1 Polling Polling District District Ward 2010 2016 District Name Electorate Electorate H5 Longlevens 1,382 1,382 H1 Longlevens 1,708 1,713 H2 Longlevens 1,236 1,238 H3 Longlevens 1,329 1,329 H4 Longlevens 1,256 1,258 D1 Elmbridge 874 874 D2 Elmbridge 1,187 1,192 D3 Elmbridge 1,164 1,180 Total 10,136 10,166 Longlevens Elmbridge area uses the Longlevens shopping area The school is used by both the Elmbridge and Longlevens areas The people refer to themselves as living in Longlevens area. There is a natural boundary with the railway line, the brook and Plock Court This is the catchment area for the 3 primary schools within the area Similar housing and community. Gloucester Division GL 2 Polling Polling District District Ward 2010 2016 District Name Electorate Electorate H6 Longlevens 681 683 D4 Elmbridge 1,274 1,276 G1 Kingsholm 1,209 1,222 and Wotton G2 Kingsholm 1,963 2,009 and Wotton G4 Kingsholm 1,341 1,356 and Wotton G3 Kingsholm 969 980 and Wotton Q3 Westgate 1,329 1,634 Total 8,766 9,160 Eastgate and Kingsholm Mirrors the Kingsholm & Wotton Partnership area Naturally boundary for local schools A community that looks to the city centre for shopping Natural boundary of the brook and the railway line Reflects the traditional area of Kingsholm & Wotton Gloucester Division GL 3 Polling Polling District District Ward 2010 2016 District Name Electorate Electorate F2 Hucclecote 1,520 1,528 F1 Hucclecote 1,452 1,452 F3 Hucclecote 1,363 1,364 B5 Barnwood 1,563 1,563 B1 Barnwood 1,279 1,364 B3 Barnwood 1,385 1,385 B2 Barnwood 1,670 1,670 Total 10,232 10,326 Hucclecote/Barnwood Similar housing in age and development in the new area. The previous area of Coney Hill, currently in Barnwood, is ex-local authority, red brick housing and is totally different to the rest of the ward, which is newer build and mainly owner-occupied. Very similar communities of interest and a better boundary than previously There are high levels of deprivation in Coney hill which is totally different to the rest of the ward, which is of a much higher socio-economic group and the communities do not mix. Share a central communication spine, with local services an businesses clustered around. The street plan forces natural routes of travel along Hucclecote Road The railway line forms a natural boundary, also the Barnwood bypass (A417) This same area is served by the local library All part of the traditional area of Hucclecote Gloucester Division GL 4 Polling Polling District District Ward 2010 2016 District Name Electorate Electorate Q1 Westgate 1,487 1,751 M1 Quedgeley 1,829 1,852 Severn Vale M4 Quedgeley 1,312 1,312 Severn Vale M2 Quedgeley 1,105 1,105 Severn Vale Q2 Westgate 1,569 3,410 Total 7,302 9,430 Hempsted & City Geographically the best boundary, separated by the canal and the river and at the southern end there is a natural boundary with a main road Effectively cut off from other wards by the above boundaries, making a natural, insular ward Gloucester Division GL 5 Polling Polling District District Ward 2010 2016 District Name Electorate Electorate C3 Barton and 1455 1,456 Tredworth C5 Barton and 1,655 1,662 Tredworth C4 Barton and 2,094 2,113 Tredworth C2 Barton and 1,521 1,547 Tredworth C1 Barton and 864 868 Tredworth J4 Moreland 1,206 1,213 Total 8,795 8,859 Barton & Tredworth This is an area split unnaturally in the previous boundary review and the Tredworth community would now be reunited. Barton has its own mayor (Mock mayor) The local mosques and churches serve this whole area. The local shopping centre (High Street also serves this whole area with its very diverse needs. The whole area is a mixture of ethnic communities and are well served by local shops selling Eastern European and Asian commodities This is a very strong area who naturally see themselves as a community. Almost all of the many ethnic communities are based in this community The community all use the local shops, pubs, churches, mosques, and post office Similar type of housing Natural boundary with the railway line Gloucester Division GL 6 Polling Polling District District Ward 2010 2016 District Name Electorate Electorate J6 Moreland 1,116 1,116 J5 Moreland 1,382 1,383 J2 Moreland 1,087 1,117 J3 Moreland 969 982 J1 Moreland 1,520 1,541 K1 Podsmead 944 1,359 KS Podsmead 1,316 1,316 Total 8,334 8,814 Moreland The natural boundaries surrounding this ward are the canal, Gloucester Park, the A38 and the railway line. The residents share local schools Wotton Playing Fields are used by both Podsmead and Moreland communities By reverting the Tredworth area back to Barton & Tredworth, where it naturally belongs makes this a much more natural boundary from a geographical, physical and community view. Podsmead has similar housing and social group to the rest of the ward Children from the new area to be built off Bristol Road would naturally attend the local schools. They also share local pubs, churches and post office. Gloucester Division GL 7 Polling Polling District District Ward 2010 2016 District Name Electorate Electorate N5 Matson and 1,580 1,580 Robinswood N3 Matson and 1,221 1,266 Robinswood N4 Matson and 1,736 1,754 Robinswood N2 Matson and 1,394 1,427 Robinswood N1 Matson and 1,716 1,745 Robinswood B4 Barnwood 1,664 1,668 Total 8,311 9,440 Matson & Robinswood Geographical barrier of Robinswood Hill forms a natural boundary on one side; the other boundaries are the M5 and the railway line. The Matson & Robinswood Partnership and the Matson & Robinswood Tenants & Residents Association covers the majority of the area, but with links to the White City Partnership that also works very closely with the area. The Chequers area box (Box B4) has been included with Matson & Robinswood as the Coney Hill area and Chequers area also have a large number of local authority tenants and ex-authority housing. The community is a very similar one to the current area. Very similar social group and redbrick housing The local press links these areas in their weekly community news as they are so similar The Chequers area was split under the last review and the local people were very unhappy about the division and this reunites the original community, which has still retained the name by local people. The area shares 2 doctors’ practices, library, schools and post office. Natural community of interest The Lampreys Tenants and residents group sends a representative to the Matson & Robinswood Partnership and the Matson & Robinswood tenants and residents group and the large group helps support the smaller group, including with occasional grants.