Have say on boundary changes (From Ledbury Reporter)

Have say on boundary changes

11:40am Monday 8th October 2012 in News

LEDBURY people will have a second chance to comment on proposed local government boundary changes that could see the town split into three single wards for Ledbury’s three Herefordshire councillors.

An initial consultation period ended on August 28, with Ledbury’s existing Herefordshire councillors, and the town council, all expressing strong opposition to the planned changes.

The chief concerns were that Ledbury could be “split apart”, causing community division even at a street level, and the proposals did not take into consideration the fact that Ledbury is likely to grow, with up to 700 new homes planned for a site to the north of the viaduct.

Now Ledbury residents will have the chance to express their views again, but the window will soon close.

Marcus Bowell, the communications and public affairs manager of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England said this week: “We have completed our information gathering stage of the review and will now consider all the evidence that came in during that recent phase of consultation.

“We will publish a set of draft recommendations for new ward boundaries across Herefordshire on November 13 and hold a public consultation which will last until January 2013.”

Mr Bowell added: “We then aim to publish final recommendations in March 2013.”