WARD NAME NUMBER OF FORECAST FORECAST EVIDENCE AND RATIONALe THAT THE PROPOSALS COUNCILLORS ELECTORATE ELECTORAL MEET THE THREE STATUTORY CRITERIA IN 2019 VARIANCE IN 2019 1 Bocking North 2 4556 -3% The ward of Bocking North comprises the existing Bocking North ward (3795 electors) plus the unparished area of High Garrett (361 electors). The electors of High Garrett consider themselves more part of Bocking than the parish council area of Gosfield. The following roads – Kings Road, the remainder of Warne Avenue, part of Bailey Bridge Road and part of Boleyns Avenue (approximately 400 electors) which are currently part of Bocking South known as Bocking (College) polling district should now be included in this ward.

2 Bocking South 2 4587 -2% This ward consists of the existing Bocking South Ward less approximately 400 electors transferred to Bocking North (see above)(4079 electors). In addition 508 electors living on the north side of Rayne Road, Chadwick Drive, Malyon Close & Peel Crescent. This makes a logical boundary along the main thoroughfare of Rayne Road. 3 Braintree Blackwater 3 7561 +8% This ward consists of the communities (4843 electors) on the northern side of Coggeshall Road linking to Marlborough Road and Mountbatten Road. Within this area is the local primary school of Great Bradfords. The rest of the ward is made up of the two new developments clustered around the Marks Farm Tesco and bordered by the Braintree by Pass (A120/A131). These two communities are included in the catchment area for Lyons Hall Primary School. The Marks Farm Polling District (1409 electors) lies to the north of Coggeshall Road whilst the Twelve Acres Polling District (1309 electors) is on the south side. This latter area is separated from the area known as Beckers Green by a wide expanse of playing fields including Braintree RFC. There is no direct road access from this area to Cressing Road It is felt that the proposed name of Braintree Blackwater is more appropriate and relevant to local residents than the name Bocking Blackwater. 4 Braintree Central & Beckers Green 3 6721 -4% This ward covers the town centre of Braintree and the communities that feed off the main road (Cressing Road) that leads from the town centre to Galleys Corner Roundabout. Beckers Green (1021 electors) is separated from the new development in the Twelve Acres Polling District by a wide expanse of playing fields including Braintree RFC. The other two communities feeding off Cressing Road are Stubbs Lane (1135 electors) and St Pauls (1867 electors). The ward also includes 2698 electors from the Manor Polling District of the existing Braintree Central ward. The natural boundaries of the railway line and the Coggeshall Road enclose this area in the centre of Braintree town. 5 Braintree South 2 4736 +1% This ward is centred on the Goldingham Estate and has the A120 as its southern boundary, the eastern side of Notley Road as its western boundary, and the railway line (extended across to Notley Road) acts as its eastern and northern boundaries. This community is linked from east to west by Skitts Hill, Challis Lane and Masefield Road which provides access to nearly all the residential areas in the ward. 6 Braintree West 2 4886 +4% Braintree West is the community bordered on its eastern boundary by the west side of Notley Road, on its southern boundary by the A120, on its northern boundary by the south side of Rayne Road, Pierrefitte Way and St Michael’s Road. On its western boundary it goes to the boundary of the parish of Rayne a little way past Sun Lido. The ward has one of the main roads into Braintree – London Road – running through the middle of it and which provides access to the estates of Tortoiseshell Way, Acorns Avenue, Godlings Way, and Clare Road. The electorate consists of the following: All of the current polling district of Clare less 508 electors transferred to Bocking South. A total of 2087 electors. 1467 electors from Braintree Manor polling district not included in Braintree Central & Beckers Green ward. 1315 electors from the existing two Lodge polling districts. 17 electors living in 78 – 112 London Road currently in the Great Notley & Braintree West ward. 7 Bumpstead 1 2108 -10% The ward of Bumpstead contains the adjoining parishes of Steeple Bumpstead (1302 electors), Helions Bumpstead (365 electors) and Sturmer (441 electors). The three parishes are located in the far north west area of the district adjoining the Suffolk border. Children from all three parishes use the primary school in Steeple Bumpstead and the small shop in that village provides local shopping for the community. 8 Cressing & Silver End 2 4840 +4% The ward of Cressing & Silver End comprises the parishes of Cressing (1402 electors), Silver End (2856 electors) and Rivenhall (582 electors). Silver End & Rivenhall have been incorporated in the same ward since the two parishes were established in 1982. Cressing is linked to Silver End at its northern end by Boars Tye Road and at it southern end by Temple Lane.

9 Gosfield, Stisted & Greenstead Green 1 2277 -3% This ward consists of three adjoining parishes – Gosfield (1169 electors), Stisted (546 electors), and Greenstead Green & Halstead Rural (562 electors) - which have historically been linked together. 10 Great Notley & Maylands 2 5350 +14% The ward consists of the whole of the parished area of Great Notley (4632 electors) and all of the existing Polling District of Maylands (718 electors) contained within the boundary of London Road, the Gt Notley Bypass, and the A120. The ward is slightly above the tolerance level suggested for the councillor/elector ratio. The reason for this is that the only alternative would be to restrict the ward to the boundaries of the Great Notley Parish Council which would leave the unparished area detached from its natural partner. Most residents in the unparished area consider themselves part of Great Notley and there have been requests to extend the parish boundary to include this area. These residents look to the facilities contained within the Parish such as the Church in Great Notley, the Notley Green Community Centre, children’s play areas, and the two Primary schools. In addition a well-used footpath runs from Queenborough Lane through Great Notley village to the shopping facilities centred on the Tesco site at the southern end of the village. 11 Halstead St Andrew 2 4934 +6% To keep electoral equality the town of Halstead needs to reduce the number of its members from 5 to 4. By transferring the existing Polling District DE2 and the following roads from Polling District DE1 – Highfield, Ash Rise, Ozier Field, Stansted Road, Cooks Close, Johnstone, Ravens Ave., Elms Drive, Balls Chase –from St Andrew Ward to Trinity two electorally equal wards can be formed. 12 Halstead Trinity 2 4827 +3% See the rational set out above for Halstead St Andrew Ward.

13 Pant Valley 1 2442 +5% This ward consists of three main settlements that nestle by the River Pant. These are Great Bardfield (1050 electors), Shalford (665 electors) and (727 electors). In addition to their mutual connection to the River Pant the three communities are linked by twelve buses a day travelling from Great Bardfield to Braintree and passing through both Shalford and Panfield. 14 Rayne & 1 2301 -2% The ward is composed of the area covered by the adjoining Parish Councils of Rayne (1860 electors), Great Saling (231 electors) and Bardfield Saling (149 electors). In addition it proposed that 61 electors living in the unparished area of Queenborough Lane and Braintree Green should also be included. They are currently included in the Great Notley Ward but are now separated from the rest of that ward by the A120, the new four lane Great Notley bypass and the Skyline A120 Commercial Park. They are within very short distance of the boundary of Rayne Parish Council. 15 Stour Valley North 1 2302 -2% This ward, situated in the north east corner of the District, consists of the settlements of Liston (41 electors), Borley (93 electors), Foxearth (215 electors), Pentlow (196 electors), Bulmer( 499 electors), Wickham St Paul (278 electors), Gestingthorpe (347 electors) and the Belchamps (St Paul, Otten & Walter). The Belchamps have 633 electors. Belchamp Otten & Belchamp St. Paul are joined by a grouped Parish as are Foxearth & Liston.

20 Stour Valley South 1 2312 -1% This ward consists of the settlements of Middleton (118 electors), Great Henny (120 electors), Little Henny (37 electors), Lamarsh (149 electors), Bures Hamlet (617 electors), Alphamstone (168 electors), Pebmarsh (447 electors),Twinstead (132 electors), Little Maplestead (220 electors) and Great Maplestead (304 electors). Great Henny, Little Henny, Middleton & Twinstead are grouped parishes as are Alphamstone and Lamarsh. 21 The Hedinghams 2 4673 0% This ward consists of the two parishes of Sible Hedingham (3665 electors) and Castle Hedingham 1008 electors). The centres of population of the two parishes are approximately a mile apart. Positioned almost exactly between the two settlements is Hedingham School and Sixth Form which provides senior education to young people in the area. Extensive community partnerships exist between the Hedinghams linking both the historic villages closely together.

22 The Yeldhams 1 1908 -18% This ward consists of the settlements of Great Yeldham (1444 electors), Little Yeldham (280 electors), Tilbury Juxta Clare (130 electors) and Ovington (54 electors). The last three of these are covered by one Parish Council. The addition of Tilbury Juxta Clare and Ovington to the ward decreases slightly its electoral variance. The only way to meet the electoral equality requirement would be to have a ward with a very large geographical area and would severely weaken the community identity of the ward. This was clearly accepted on the last review. There is a parish magazine covering Gt Yeldham, Lt Yeldham, Tilbury Juxta Clare and Ovington called "The 4 Villages magazine" which advertises local events, clubs and societies and tradesmen. There is a primary school in Gt Yeldham, St Andrews CEVC. Children from Tilbury and Lt Yeldham go to the school. There is also a branch surgery in Gt Yeldham which serves Gt Yeldham, Lt Yeldham and Tilbury . There is a post office, village shop and vet in Gt Yeldham which serves all four villages as well as two pubs. Access from Lt Yeldham, Tilbury and Ovington to the main A1017 is via Gt Yeldham. The A1017 connects the villages to Halstead, Braintree and Haverhill and on to Colchester, and Cambridge.

23 Three Colnes 2 4188 -10% This ward remains unchanged from the last review. It consists of the three parishes of Earls Colne (2926 electors), White Colne (432 electors) and Colne Engaine (830 electors). The A1124 forms the main transport route linking the villages to both Halstead and Colchester. Similarly, they have bus routes in common providing access for residents to those towns plus Sudbury to the north. Whilst Colne Engaine has a thriving village shop, all three villages rely heavily on the Earls Colne Co-op store for their shopping needs. There is also a cash point outside the Co-op which is used by the residents of the three villages. The Earls Colne Post Office is a vital facility for all three villages. There is a history of close working and information sharing between the three Parish Councils. 24 Two Fields 1 2234 -4% The ward brings together the adjoining parishes of Finchingfield & Cornish End (1168 electors) and Wethersfield & Blackmore End (1066 electors). These are closely associated communities with a history of working together, are linked directly by the B1053 and residents share many facilities such as the health centre, petrol stations and pubs. 25 Upper Colne 1 1817 -22% This ward remains unchanged from the last review and contains the settlements of Ashen (287 electors), Birdbrook 306 electors), Ridgewell (436 electors), Stamborne (351 electors) and Toppesfield (437 electors). As with the last review the ward Upper Colne faces the same challenge as The Yeldhams ward of striking a balance between electoral equality and community identity. This northern part of the district has many very small communities. Achieving electoral equality can only be achieved by constructing an artificial amalgamation of a large number of communities. The Upper Colne ward has one of the largest acreage area wise within due to the small villages and sparely populated hamlets within. The ward itself has five pubs, five village halls, five churches and one chapel and contains five parish councils. The two primary schools namely in Ridgewell and Topplesfield serve the children that live within the ward of the Upper Colne. The A1017 which is a major route passes through a large part of the ward with links to all parishes within, before continuing over the boundary into Suffolk and the major town of Haverhill.