From: Hilary Thompson Sent: 19 December 2010 23:02 To: Metheringham-Owlett, Jessica Subject: Re: Hartlepool electoral review Dear Jessica, I refer to your e-mail and our telephone conversation and thank you for the opportunity to add some detail to our submission. I have attempted to provide information on how the Association of Independent Councillors arrived at our proposed wards. Unfortunately, with the snow conditions and the Christmas period I have not been able to contact all the Independent councillors involved in our submission to provide detailed evidence for every ward. At the extraordinary Council meeting last Thursday to consider the General Purposes Committee's proposal, there was significant opposition to the Council's submission. After much debate, it was eventually carried by the combined votes of the Labour Party and the Conservatives (24 votes) with the Lib-Dems and Independents opposing (13 votes). I attach the reasoning behind our proposals for Wards A (Fens area), C (Owton/Rossmere area) and D (Foggy Furze/Rift House area). Ward B (Seaton/Rossmere). There are two Primary Schools, Holy Trinity and Golden Flatts Primary School, as well as the stand-alone Seaton Carew Nursery School. This whole area is the catchment for Golden Flatts Primary School and Governors are from both the Jutland Road and Seaton area. Holy Trinity Church's Parish Boundary extends to South Rossmere. Seaton Library is popular with residents from both Seaton Carew and Rossmere and all residents can access the beach, the Golf Course, Seaton Carew shops and Seaton Park easily. Seaton Carew has a railway station, convenient for this area. These two areas shared the same ward boundary when Seaton Lane was in Seaton ward, until the last Boundary Review when it was moved into Rossmere ward. Ward E (West Park/Grange) This area has many executive homes, and most houses are owner-occupied. There are three schools, Eldon Grove Primary and West Park Primary, both feeder schools for High Tunstall College of Science, although some will attend English Martyrs RC School and College of Art. Catcote School for children with special needs is also in this proposed ward. There is a Cricket Ground and Club and Briarfields allotments, well-tended by their keepers. Ward Jackson Park has a lake, cafe, play area and well-used community facilities. Summerhill Woodland Adventure Park also features in this proposed ward - an area very popular with residents town-wide and a tourist attraction. You already have my letter giving the community links in the proposed Rural ward, K. ( I would suggest this is named "Rural West") Whilst the Independents have looked at the whole of Hartlepool without political bias, to join most of the rural area with a large part of West Park, as in the Council submission, would help return the Conservative West Park councillors as there is a number of Conservative electors in the rural area! Although I have been unable to provide information on all our proposed wards, please be assured that we in the Independent Association spent a great deal of time poring over ward maps really trying to do our best for the communities of Hartlepool. We believe the Boundary Commission when you say that community cohesion is paramount and know that you will do your utmost, as we have, to make sure that this Boundary Review gives the best outcome for the residents of our town. Please don't hesitate to call me or e-mail if you have any further queries. I have a Cabinet meeting Monday morning, but will be at home later. Kind regards and all the best for Christmas and the New Year, Hilary Thompson. The Fens Ward My proposed new Fens ward will be made up using the natural boundaries of the A689 from Greatham beck along Stockton Rd.Turning left at the Owton Lodge roundabout proceed up Owton Manor Lane, after crossing Catcote Rd continue up Owton Manor Lane to Macrae Rd, from Macrae Rd follow the existing boundary back to the A689 The new ward will take in all the properties between the A689 and the south side of Owton Manor Lane. The existing ward is made up of mainly privately owned houses, some of which are privately rented and the “I” block which is an ex council estate consisting of privately owned houses, privately rented houses and social housing. The additional properties brought into the proposed new ward by the boundary changes are very similar to the properties in the original ward. The properties of the south Fens are of similar size and the families have similar backgrounds. Many already regard themselves are being part of the Fens. Privately owned properties in the areas of Torquay, Mardale and Berkeley Avenues have for many years been advertised by local estate agents as being in the Fens ward. The properties in the “C” block, Claymore Rd up to Catcote Rd are in keeping with the properties on the I block. The “M” block at the top of Owton Manor Lane is another ex-council estate and comprises properties that are very similar to the properties in the “I” and “C” blocks. Before the last boundary change the “M” block formed part of the Fens ward. Many residents from across the proposed areas regularly attend public meetings which are organised by the Fens Resident Association. At the centre of the Fens is a shopping parade which is very popular with residents from the areas already mentioned. The parade includes a variety of shops, several owned by well known household chains as well as a number owned and run by local residents. A G.P. surgery is a recent welcome addition to the Fens ward and is situated within the shopping parade. The much needed surgery is well supported by local residents. On the parade is one of the two public houses that are in the ward. The Fens hotel is owned and run by a local family. The other is the Mowbray which again is run by a local family. Both are very popular with residents from across the proposed ward. The proposed ward will have two Primary schools, Fens Primary and Grange Primary as well as Manor College. St Teresa’s R.C School and Rossmere School are both within walking distance of most residents living in the ward. Many of the older children attend either Manor College or English Martyrs R.C. which is a short bus ride away. St Patrick’s R.C church will be a welcome addition to the ward and brings with it a much used church hall. The church hall is used for church activities and social events which are well attended by local residents. The Fens School also has a community room. This room is used for the school breakfast club and the after school club, the Fens over 50’s club also meet there on a weekly basis Local residents are encouraged to use the amenities provided by the Owton Residents Association and the Owton Rossmere Resource Centre (and many do). Both are within walking distance of most people who live on the Fens. The Fens ward also has a number of green areas - Spalding Green and the Greatham beck country park area, which are both very popular with local children. Many of the older children use the facilities provided by the Rossmere youth centre as well as using the play areas in Rossmere Park, which is also popular with families with smaller children. The boundaries of the old Fens ward have been extended as little as possible, this has been done to minimise the impact on the existing communities. Owton/ Rossmere ward. The proposed ward takes in the natural boundaries of Owton Manor Lane, the A689 and Brierton Lane. To be included in the proposed ward are all the properties on the North side of the Owton Manor Lane and all the properties on the South side of Brierton Lane. Starting at the Owton Lodge roundabout go up Owton Manor Lane, cross Catcote Rd and continue up the top half of Owton Manor Lane to Macrae Rd and the rural boundary. The proposed ward will also take the properties along the West side of the A689 from the Owton Lodge roundabout to Brierton Lane, Turn left up Brierton Lane, cross Catcote Rd and continue up the top half of Brierton Lane to the rural boundaries. My reasons for combining Owton and Rossmere are that these ward already have very close community links and have many things in common. Owton is an ex-council estate where the majority of properties are social housing; a number of properties have been purchased under the right to buy scheme for owner occupancy. However, some that were purchase under the scheme are now rented out privately. The Rossmere area is also an ex-council estate where the majority of properties are social housing, again some of the properties have been purchased under the right to buy scheme and some that were purchased under the scheme are now rented out privately. Within the boundary of the Rossmere area is a small number of privately owned detached and semi detached properties. Owton and Rossmere are also areas of high unemployment, deprivation and have health related problems, both areas have for many years received Government funding to help alleviate the problems. There are three primary schools, St Teresa’s R.C. Owton Manor and Rossmere (which is undergoing an expansion, funded with money from the Primary Capital Fund). The majority of the pupils who attend the school live within the boundaries of the proposed ward and are within walking distance of the schools.