Campaign Mounts Against Boundary Plans

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Deadline looms for comments on proposals

A petition has been set up to oppose the boundary changes proposed for the Wimbledon constituency, has now received more than 1,000 signatures.

The Boundary Commission proposals would would see Abbey and Trinity wards, which cover much of Wimbledon town centre, moving into a new Mitcham seat.

The deadline is now looming for comments on their plans, with the consultation period ending on Monday (December 5).

Their report said as Kingston was considered two small for two constituencies, it proposes taking seven Kingston wards and seven Merton wards and merging them into a new Wimbledon and New Malden constituency.

Meanwhile the current Wimbledon wards of Abbey and Trinity would be moved to a new Mitcham constituency, where they would be joined by Streatham South ward, alongside Mitcham wards. Finally, the Wimbledon Park ward would move to Putney

The Abbey and Trinity wards cover much of Wimbledon town centre, including the New Wimbledon Theatre, the former Wimbledon Town Hall, the Centre Court Shopping Centre and Wimbledon station.

There has been some criticism about Wimbledon town centre being divided across two constituencies and when local councillors organised a meeting to discuss the proposals, there were more than 140 people there.

Now a petition has been set up, calling on the Boundary Commission not to proceed with the changes to move Abbey and Trinity wards into a Mitcham constituency. Its supporters are calling on people to sign it before the end of the commission's consultation period on Monday December 5.

They say it would split Wimbledon in two, with two MPs with conflicting priorities. They also state many Wimbledon landmarks would no longer be served by a Wimbledon MP.

• The Boundary Commission for England reviews Parliamentary constituency boundaries every five years.
• In this review they were taking account of new rules that every constituency in England (except two covering the Isle of Wight) must have an electorate of between 72,810 and 80,473 - that is 5% either side of the electoral quota of 76,641. The new constituencies are likely to be the ones used for the next election which is currently expected to be in 2015.
• They are consulting on their initial proposals for a 12-week period, from now until December 5. They are encouraging everyone to contribute to the design of the new constituencies.
• The consultation site contains reports and maps, the electorate sizes of every ward and an online facility where you can have your say on the initial proposals. You can also write directly to: Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BQ. Or email london@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk.

What do you think? Why not add to the boundary thread on our forum?

December 1, 2011