By Harry Mottram: Somerset Confidential news has reported on the proposed divisional electoral boundaries for Somerset Council which gives some interesting new wards. From Wedmore’s point of view Cheddar Reservoir would now lie within the village’s boundary – suggesting perhaps it (together with the planned Cheddar Reservoir 2) be renamed Wedmore Reservoir.
Certainly, the scribes behind drawing up the boundary changes in order to reduce the number of county councillors from 110 to 96 in order to save money have been busy and inventive. South Cheddar with the new estates would in effect become north Clewer while Axbridge would end at the keep left island outside the former St Michael’s Cheshire Home. Cheddar would keep The Gorge and keep Shipham and half of Black Down.
Writing for Somerset Confidential the editor Andrew Lee penned: “As we reported before Christmas, there is a Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) review looking at the number of councillors that Somerset Council should have. You may recall that the Commission has already invited Somerset Council to suggest the number of councillors it feels it should have going forwards. The council, made up largely of people who felt that 110 councillors was too few when campaigning for two unitary councils in 2021, came down on the side of reducing the number of councillors to 96. That recommendation has been taken to heart by LGBCE and now appears to be set in stone for the future.”
The idea is the same as the parliamentary boundaries which change as the demographics change and are supposed to roughly give each constituency the same amount of voters. As new homes are built that can change the population of areas quite a bit. Cheddar has a whole new suburb appearing off Upper New Road which is coming close to linking up with the Magic Roundabout and the edge of Axbridge which in turn has a new estate going up off Houlgate Way.
Back to the Electoral Working Party at Taunton for the council – and their map showing the new divisions. A number of wards had two members and the plan was to do away with some of these – Axevale being one. The upshot is the proposals rested with the council’s committees and councillors to decide on after a consultation process ended – and as Somerset Confidential quoted a councillor as saying – ‘the plan pleased no one which meant it was perfect!’ Surprise, surprise, the working party councillors rejected the plans in a vote meaning it is back to the drawing board although individual councillors and other committees are believed to have submitted the plans to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).
Will Axbridge be separated from Cheddar electorally? Will Wedmore claim the reservoir? No doubt we will hear in due course.
Somerset Confidential is a subscription service of news in the county. To subscribe visit https://somersetconfidential.substack.com/
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
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Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk
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