New Parliamentary Constituencies For Wimbledon Planned

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Plans mean fewer MPs to cover London area

The Boundary Commission's planned shake-up of MPs' constituencies is recommending two new constituencies for the Wimbledon area.

The new Merton and Wimbledon Central constituency (see map below) will cover the Merton council wards of Abbey, Cannon Hill, Colliers Wood, Cricket Green, Dundonald, Hillside, Lavender Fields, Ravensbury, Raynes Park, Trinity and West Barnes.

Most of those wards are now covered by two constituencies - Wimbledon, represented by Tory Stephen Hammond, and Mitcham & Morden, represented by Labour's Siobhain McDonagh.

Elsewhere in the area, there will be a Wimbledon Common and Putney constituency. This will take in the Wimbledon Park and Village wards.

Other wards in the east of the borough will be in constituencies covering Streatham & Mitcham, Sutton & Cheam, or Tooting. It means five MPs covering Merton, rather than the current two.

It's part of a plan to reduce the number of constituencies in England from 533 to 501, with each having an electorate no smaller than 71,031 and no bigger than 78,507. The number of constituencies in London must be reduced from 73 to 68.

Mr Hammond said: "I am disappointed with the Boundary Commission’s proposals for Wimbledon and Merton.

"There is little community interest and cohesion represented in these plans. 

"Wimbledon is effectively ripped apart, with Wimbledon Park and Village joining the Putney constituency. Residents in this part of my constituency look towards Wimbledon town centre for their shopping, leisure and public transport facilities. There is very little community cohesion between this area and Putney.

"Similarly Mitcham and Morden is ripped apart, with 4 wards joining the rest of Wimbledon, again where there is very little community cohesion. These parts of Merton look more towards Tooting, Streatham and Mitcham, not to Wimbledon.

"The Borough of Merton is ripped apart by these proposals, going from having two Members of Parliament to five.

"These proposals will make it harder for Members of Parliament locally to work constructively with the Local Authority, to deliver for residents in the areas that matter most to them and to understand their concerns.

"I encourage all local residents to have a close look at the changes and respond to the consultation on www.bce2018.org.uk."

The Boundary Commission are consulting on their initial proposals for a 12-week period, from 13 September 2016 to 5 December 2016. Their website has more information about how to respond as well as details of where and when they will be holding public.

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