The Review Officer (Cotswold) Local Government Boundary Commission for England Layden House TurnmillStreet London EC1M 5LG
11 November 2013
Dear Sir
Cotswold District - Consultation on Ward Boundaries
I am writing to you in my capacity as Chairman of Evenlode Parish Council to provide input on behalf of Evenlode Parish on the current consultation on ward boundaries. The following comments follow discussion at a recent parish council meeting and circulation and consultation with the residents of Evenlode Parish.
Current ward boundaries
Evenlode is currently part of Beacon-Stow ward. This ward comprises Stow-on-the-Wold together with a number of outlying villages and differs from the typical Cotswold District ward model in that it is a 'hybrid' ward, combining one of the major population centres of Cotswold with distinctly rural villages. Compare this to the other nearly principal population centres of Bourton-on-the- Water and Moreton-in-Marsh, each of which are separate wards, without surrounding villages. Historically, I assume that Beacon-Stow was constructed to balance the ratio of council members to electoral numbers, with Stow on its own being too large for one member and too small for two.
The consequence, however, for Evenlode (and indeed Adelstrop, Oddington and Bledington) is that our ward councillors are effectively selected and elected by the residents of Stow, who represent more than 60% of the ward electorate.
When Beacon-Stow was created this may have been less of an issue. But over the 18 years that I have been a resident of Evenlode the nature of Stow has changed quite markedly, from local hub serving the surrounding communities to tourist centre. ln Evenlode we recognise the importance of the tourism industry for Cotswold District but the interests of the town and the villages that make up Beacon-Stow are no longer closely aligned. lndeed, on some issues the interests of the two are in conflict. For example, measures that make Stow even more attractive to visitors, such as the mix of retailoutlets and Iarge number of teashops, make it less useful as a service hub for surrounding villages. Resulting congestion further excludes villagers from gaining easy access to the remaining local services.
The net result is that residents of Evenlode and the other Beacon-Stow villages are substantially disenfranchised. lt is right that the population centres should elect the majority of ward members, but if this 'hybrid' ulard structure were followed for the district as a whole, the rural villages would have little or no representation on the district council.
. A further anomaly is the separation of Evenlode and Broadwell (Three Rivers Ward). Broadwell is the closest village to Evenlode and is regarded by all Evenlode residents as a part of our natural grouping. Anyone driving from Evenlode to Stow will necessarily pass through the centre of Broadwell, which also provides our nearest local pub and our rector. lndeed most residents of Evenlode and Broadwell would be surprised to learn that the two villages are not currently in the same ward.
Proposals for new ward boundaries
We propose that a new ward be created comprising the parishes of Adelstrop, Broadwell, Oddington, Donnington, Evenlode, Bledington, lcomb and Westcote. This grouping has a current electoral roll total of 1583, which falls short of that needed for the proposed new single member wards. The difference could be made up by including either Longborough (electoral roll - 413) or Todenham (electoral roll- 216).
The new ward would represent a group of villages with similar interests and concerns, with no one village in too dominant a role. The ward member would most probably be a resident of one of the villages.
The new ward has a geographic coherence - being essentially the villages along the Evenlode River (Evenlode Vale) and addresses the separation of Broadwell from Adelstrop, Oddington and Evenlode.
This grouping (apart from Longborough/Todenham) follows an alignment of church parishes 15 years ago to create the Evenlode Vale Benefice. The role of the church in these communities is not significant for many residents but it has nonetheless linked together these villages for many years. For example, Adelstop, Broadwell, Oddington, Donnington and Evenlode share a monthly 'Village Newsletter' that is now secular in theme/production and shares news and events.
. lf Evenlode has to remain in a ward dominated by a town, that town should be Moreton-in-Marsh. Moreton is seen by most Evenlode residents as a natural centre, providing the largest block of local services, including: railway station, hospital/doctors, schools, council offices, town centre shopping, ' Moreton agriculturalshow, etc.
We appreciate the complexity of changing ward boundaries, but believe that our proposals would glve to Evenlode and the other villages of Beacon-Stow a voice at Cotswold District Council and address the current lack of effective representation.
I would be very happy to elaborate on any of these comments and to have the opportunity to comment further as this process moves forward.
Yours faithfully
Chris Adams Chairman, Evenlode Parish Council