Boundary Commission Report
Transcription
Boundary Commission Report
DISTRICT OF FENLAND REVIEW OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FENLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL DRAFT SUBMISSION 1 Contents 1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................4 2. WELCOME TO FENLAND .................................................................................................................5 3. WELCOME TO FENLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL ..................................................................................6 6 COUNCIL SIZE & ELECTORATE FIGURES ..........................................................................................9 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................9 APPENDIX 1 CURRENT ELECTORATE BY WARD – 2011 ELECTORAL FIGURES.......................................11 APPENDIX 2 EXISTING WARDING ARRANGEMENTS .............................................................................12 APPENDIX 3 FORECAST ELECTORATE BY PROPOSED WARD – PROJECTED 2018 FIGURES...................13 APPENDIX 4 PROPOSED DISTRICT WARDING ARRANGEMENTS – OPTIONS 1 & 2 ...............................15 APPENDIX 5 INDIVIDUAL WARD PROFILES ...........................................................................................17 WHITTLESEY – NORTH – SINGLE MEMBER WARD................................................................................17 WHITTLESEY CENTRAL –........................................................................................................................20 WHITTLESEY NORTH EAST WARD .........................................................................................................23 WHITTLESEY WEST ................................................................................................................................26 WHITTLESEY – EAST WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD ........................................................................29 BENWICK, COATES AND EASTREA.........................................................................................................32 CHATTERIS – BIRCH WARD....................................................................................................................35 CHATTERIS – SLADE LODE WARD..........................................................................................................38 CHATTERIS – THE MILLS WARD.............................................................................................................41 CHATTERIS – WENNEYE WARD .............................................................................................................44 MARCH – MARCH WEST WARD ............................................................................................................47 MARCH – MARCH EAST WARD .............................................................................................................50 MARCH – MARCH NORTH WARD..........................................................................................................53 DODDINGTON WARD............................................................................................................................56 Option 1 ................................................................................................................................................58 Option 2 ................................................................................................................................................58 WIMBLINGTON WARD ..........................................................................................................................60 Option 1 ................................................................................................................................................62 Option 2 ................................................................................................................................................62 MANEA WARD.......................................................................................................................................63 ELM AND CHRISTCHURCH WARD .........................................................................................................66 2 WISBECH - WATERLEES VILLAGE WARD – DUAL MEMBER WARD .......................................................70 WISBECH - KIRKGATE WARD .................................................................................................................73 WISBECH – STAITHE WARD...................................................................................................................76 WISBECH – CLARKSON WARD...............................................................................................................79 WISBECH – OCTAVIA HILL WARD..........................................................................................................82 WISBECH – MEDWORTH WARD............................................................................................................85 WISBECH – PECKOVER WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD ....................................................................88 ROMAN BANK WARD............................................................................................................................91 PARSON DROVE/ WISBECH ST MARY WARD ........................................................................................94 OPTION 1...............................................................................................................................................98 OPTION 2...............................................................................................................................................98 3 DISTRICT OF FENLAND REVIEW OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FENLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL DRAFT SUBMISSION 1. INTRODUCTION The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) confirmed in June 2011 its intention to carry out a review of electoral arrangements in Fenland. The review was triggered as a result of changes in electoral representation since the previous review in 2002. These changes have resulted in 9 of the 27 existing district wards having a variance greater than 10% from the average, with one of those wards carrying a variance of 34%. The aim of the review is to improve electoral equality. This means as far as is reasonable that each district councillor represents the same number of electors. In addition, the further two criteria of effective and convenient local government and community identity, have been considered and given equal weight. Fenland District Council decided that it would seek to put forward its own proposals at each stage of the LGBCE review project, to be ratified by Full Council. As a result the District Council formulated a cross party Member Working Group, made up primarily of Group Leaders to lead the Council through the LGBCE process. The Member Working Group was informed by in depth consultation feedback from three cycles of member Focus Groups which involved all 40 Councillors. This has ensured the District Council submission has be refined over a period of time and represents the most appropriate solution for the future warding arrangements for the District. The cross party Member Working Group was convened to consider the current and future district warding arrangements including specific warding options informed by the Member Focus Groups. The Member Focus Groups have played a key role in identifying and refining warding options within in the extensive consultation which has been carried out as part of this stage of the project. 4 This submission provides details of the process followed and describes the case for the future warding arrangements. The proposed wards will vary in relation to some being single member wards and some being multi member wards. This varied proposal is believed to best reflect local established communities. 2. WELCOME TO FENLAND Located in East Anglia, Fenland covers approximately 200 square miles and is one of five districts within the county of Cambridgeshire. Fenland is a rural and sparsely populated district with many isolated rural communities. The mid-2010 population estimate for Fenland is 94,200 and the population has grown by an average of around 1,300 people per year since the 2001 Census. Fenland residents account for 16% of the population of Cambridgeshire. There are around 42,400 dwellings in Fenland and 72% of residents live within the districts 4 market towns, with the remaining 28% scattered between the district’s 29 villages. Fenland has an ageing population with 20% of residents aged 65 or over, and indications are that this trend will continue. The area suffers from multiple deprivation and is ranked as 94th most deprived of the 326 local authorities nationally. This includes 3 areas in the top 10% most deprived wards in the country. 5 Fenland has a set of unique and varied challenges as a district that the Council is working proactively with its partners to overcome These challenges include: • High levels of deprivation with wards in the bottom 10% of the most deprived wards nationally. • Low levels of educational attainment, aspiration and skills however, the number of pupils gaining 5 + A* - C grades in Fenland has increased, from 36% in 2000 to 62% in 2010. • Lowest levels of healthy eating and exercise in the East of England. • Highest levels of smoking in the East of England. • High levels of migration into the district – particularly from Eastern Europe leading to issues of community cohesion, housing and access to services. • One of largest populations of Gypsy Travellers in the country. • Poor public transport links and infrastructure. Other issues also exist within the district, which are not as visible such as rural isolation, literacy levels and levels of caring for family members. These complex challenges have led the Council with its partners to generate proactive and innovative solutions which have improved quality of life for the residents of Fenland. This includes a proactive approach to growth in the District to stimulate inward investment through the Council’s Core Strategy. 3. WELCOME TO FENLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL Fenland District Council (FDC) has 40 Councillors, representing 27 wards, with 3 political groups. The Council has majority Conservative control with 34 Conservatives, 2 Liberal Democrats, and 4 Independents. The Council has adopted a Leader and Cabinet structure, with an Overview and Scrutiny Panel, and a Corporate Governance Committee. The Council’s corporate priorities were developed, following comprehensive consultation with local people, to address the key demographic issues in the district. These priorities are reviewed every year as a part of the corporate planning process. Fenland’s five Corporate Priorities are: Neighbourhood Planning: To co-ordinate public and private sector investment to deliver sustainable growth so that homes, infrastructure and jobs grow in tandem to provide a great future for people living, working and visiting Fenland in years to come. 6 Localism: To work with partners to tackle key quality of life issues in Fenland by providing innovative services tailored to our diverse districts’ needs so all our residents can live happy, safe and fulfilled lives. Streets Ahead: Creating a clean, green and safe Fenland for all residents to enjoy by working with residents, businesses, community groups and partners to promote personal responsibility and foster community pride in our local area. Open for Business: Fenland is an attractive place to do business in and the Council will do all that we can to encourage the economic recovery by supporting existing business and proactively encouraging new business and inward investment into the district. Quality Organisation: The Council aims to train and develop our staff to put the right skills in place to deliver the excellent customer services our residents need and have prioritised through consultation, in easily accessible locations right across the district. FDC is a highly performing District Council and is nationally recognised for the innovative services we provide to the Fenland community and for our distinctive organisational culture. We are a CPA Excellent Council that consistently punches above its weight. We are also an ambitious organisation which wants to achieve more for the local community. Examples of notable achievements include: • • • • • • • • • A number of national awards recognising excellent service delivery, including 3 Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards in 2010 and highly commended at the LGC Awards for Council of the Year in 2011 Corporate Customer Service Excellence – the first organisation in the country to achieve overall corporate standard. Investors in People accredited. 98% customer satisfaction. 91% staff satisfaction. Major project delivery in a wide range of areas. Top performance and sound financial management in difficult circumstances. We were in the top 10 worst hit Councils in the country in terms of funding reductions. Focus on improving quality of life – not just District Council functions. Ambition for the future. This ambition is to improve the quality of life of Fenland residents. To achieve this, the Council with its partners has developed a proactive and aspirational vision which will provide the catalyst for a successful and vibrant future for Fenland. This vision was developed through a robust evidence base which seeks to analyse future opportunities for the Fenland area to improve quality of life and increase prosperity over the next 20 years. This work has culminated in the production of the Fenland Communities Development Plan, the Council’s draft Core Strategy which looks to 7 ensure the future prosperity of the District through a positive and sustainable approach to growth which will also contribute to improving quality of life for all Fenland residents. This vision sets out how partners, through working together can influence the improvement of educational attainment, health outcomes, income levels, infrastructure and cohesion. Councillors are at the center of this vision in making Fenland an attractive place to live, work and visit for years to come. 4 ELECTORAL HISTORY Fenland was established following a Local Government reorganisation in 1974. Since the previous Local Government Boundary review in 2002 the district has been served by 40 Councillors representing 27 wards. The current average Councilor elector ratio is 1869. The present warding structure is broadly coterminous with the 16 parish council boundaries, however the County Council electoral divisions are not coterminous. Fenland District is currently encompassed within the North East Cambridgeshire parliamentary constituency. If however the proposed parliamentary constituencies proceed in accordance with the current proposals out for consultation, this will add further electoral complexity, as the district will be split across three newly formed parliamentary constituencies. District Council elections follow an ‘all out’ approach every four years. This system has been in place throughout Fenland’s existence. 5 REVIEW PROCESS From the point the review was announced the Council was clear that it wished to respond fully at each stage, as a result, strong project management and governance arrangements have been put in place. A cross party Member Working Group was established to steer the development of Fenland District Council’s response. The group comprised 5 District Councillors (2 Councillors from the Conservative Group, 2 Councillors from the Lib Dem Alliance and 1 Independent Councillor, the group was chaired by the Leader of the District Council). The Working Group signed off the approach and draft proposals that were shared with the wider Member focus groups for consultation. A series of Member focus groups took place which comprised of all district councillors, however the groups were facilitated on an area basis in order to discuss detail of specific settlements. These discussions formed the basis of the draft warding proposals. Members who were not able to attend any of the 15 focus group meetings which took place, had individual briefing sessions. This approach was taken in order to maximize member engagement and participation, eliciting their expertise and knowledge of the local area and the communities they serve. 8 The initial member focus group meetings focused on town boundaries and key settlement affiliations, these discussions enabled the initial draft district warding scheme to be designed. The initial scheme was submitted to the Member Working Group who gave the mandate for the scheme to be shared with the second round of focus groups for further discussion and refinement. This resulted in a third round of focus group meetings, at the end of which a general consensus of opinion was reached. These proposals were once again shared with the Member Working Group who sanctioned the progress of the warding arrangements to be put before Full Council. An officer project team managed the day to day work streams relating to the review and comprised of key officers from the District Council. 6 COUNCIL SIZE & ELECTORATE FIGURES In February 2011 the LGBCE asked the Council for its view on Council size, the number of councillors required to govern the council effectively. The Member Working group and focus groups considered several options in this respect and agreed to submit to full Council and the Boundary Commission a recommendation of 40 councillors to ensure effect local government. This recommendation was agreed by all members of the Council regardless of political persuasion. As of 1 December 2011 there were 74765 registered electors in Fenland, giving an average of 1869 electors per councillor. The district council submitted electorate figures for 2018, following the strict Boundary Commission calculations and guidance which projected an increase in electorate of 5502 to 80267. This figure correlates with Office of National Statistic estimates. Retaining 40 Councillors would result in an average of 2007 electors per councilor, this is comparable with other district councils. These figures have been used to build the new warding arrangements. The LGBCE confirmed that it was minded to adopt a Council size of 40, reserving the right to increase or decrease the number of Councillors by 1 should a future warding scheme emerge which better reflected the Boundary Commission criteria. 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Fenland District Council’s proposal for the future warding arrangements of the District has considered and addressed the LGBCE criteria of: • Electoral equality • Effective and convenient local government • Community identity 9 The level of member consultation and engagement has been extensive and comprehensive, resulting in a scheme which the Council believes best reflects the LGBCE criteria, the needs of the community we represent and to ensure the Council can operate effectively and to the highest standards. The final Council submission is to retain between 24 -26 district council wards representing 39 district Councillors, this is a reduction of one Councillor from the council size recommendations. This is due to the fact that the preferred warding scheme of 39 Councillors which emerged better reflected the LGBCE criteria than a scheme for 40 Councillors. As a result the average number of electors per councilor changes to 2058. The key factors in ensuring the LGBCE criteria have been met include: • • • • • • Ward sizes have been determined with a range of criteria to ensure they are compact, reflect the geographical features of the area, the community facilities, community identity and the electorate size. Electoral equality has been achieved in the main and are within the LGBCE tolerance of +/- 10%, and where this is not the case, substantial evidence has been submitted. Where possible we have utilised existing parishes as building blocks for the proposed warding arrangements Communication networks within wards are effective and there are no major barriers within wards The mixture of single member wards in addition to multiple member wards ensures accountability, reflect communities whilst also ensuring ease of access to elected representatives. The structure and arrangements are understandable and meet the objectives of the review without diluting the benefits of the current structure. As part of the warding review the Working Group and Focus Groups have considered ward names. The view was taken that for most wards the existing names should remain to ensure clarity for electors. In some cases where wards have changed significantly different names have been proposed. The District Council’s proposed scheme has achieved cross party support, however there are two areas which the Council’s membership were not able to reach a consensus, therefore in the spirit of openness and transparency, we have put forward the options considered and their respective benefits for the LGBCE’s consideration. The two areas in question relate to Parson Drove and Wisbech St Mary and the wards of Doddington and Wimblington. The issues associated with each of the options will be illustrated in greater detail later in the Council submission (APPENDIX 5) 10 APPENDIX 1 CURRENT ELECTORATE BY WARD – 2011 ELECTORAL FIGURES NAME CLLRS Electors Per Cllr Variance Bassenhally Ward 1 1275 1275 -32% Benwick, Coates and Eastrea Ward 2 3462 1731 -7% Birch Ward 1 1957 1957 5% Clarkson Ward 1 1890 1890 1% Delph Ward 1 1594 1594 -15% Doddington Ward 1 1774 1774 -5% Elm and Christchurch Ward 2 3774 1887 1% Hill Ward 2 4231 2115 13% Kingsmoor Ward 1 1242 1242 -34% Kirkgate Ward 1 1833 1833 -2% Lattersey Ward 1 1890 1890 1% Manea Ward 1 1623 1623 -13% March East Ward 3 5863 1954 5% March North Ward 3 5602 1867 0% March West Ward 3 5562 1854 -1% Medworth Ward Parson Drove and Wisbech St. Mary Ward 1 2104 2104 13% 2 3870 1935 4% Peckover Ward 1 1910 1910 2% Roman Bank Ward 3 5310 1770 -5% Slade Lode Ward 1 2016 2016 8% St. Andrews Ward 1 2080 2080 11% St. Marys Ward 1 2040 2040 9% Staithe Ward 1 1875 1875 0% The Mills Ward 1 2113 2113 13% Waterlees Ward 2 4136 2068 11% Wenneye Ward 1 1995 1995 7% Wimblington Ward 1 1744 1744 -7% 74765 1869 TOTALS 40 11 APPENDIX 2 EXISTING WARDING ARRANGEMENTS 12 APPENDIX 3 FORECAST ELECTORATE BY PROPOSED WARD – PROJECTED 2018 FIGURES NAME CLLR ELECTORS PER CLLR VARIANCE Benwick, Coates & Eastrea 2 4006 2003 -2.67% Clarkson Ward 1 2237 2237 8.70% Doddington 1 1910 1910 -7.19% Elm & Christchurch 2 3904 1952 -5.15% Kirkgate Ward 1 2052 2052 -0.29% Manea 1 1924 1924 -6.51% March East 3 6278 2093 1.68% March North 3 5972 1991 -3.27% March West 3 6180 2060 0.10% Medworth Ward 1 2189 2189 6.37% Octavia Hill Ward Parson Drove & Wisbech St Mary 2 4454 2227 8.21% 2 4140 2070 0.58% Peckover Ward 1 2014 2014 -2.14% Roman Bank 3 5538 1846 -10.30% Slade Lode 1 2219 2219 7.82% Staithe Ward 1 1922 1922 -6.61% The Birch 1 2217 2217 7.73% The Mills 1 2184 2184 6.12% Waterlees Village Ward 2 4373 2187 6.24% Wenneye 1 2227 2227 8.21% Whittlesey Central 1 1886 1886 -8.36% Whittlesey East 1 2179 2179 5.88% Whittlesey North 1 2030 2030 -1.36% Whittlesey North East 1 2239 2239 8.79% Whittlesey West 1 2198 2198 6.80% Wimblington 1 1795 1795 -12.78% 39 80267 2058 13 FORECAST ELECTORATE BY PROPOSED WARDS – PROJECTED 2018 FIGURES (Options for wards where a consensus of opinion has not been reached.) NAME CLLR ELECTORS PER CLLR VARIANCE Doddington & Wimblington 2 3705 1853 -9.99% Wimblington & Manea 2 3719 1860 -9.65% Parson Drove 1 2063 2063 0.24% Wisbech St Mary 1 2077 2077 0.92% 14 APPENDIX 4 PROPOSED DISTRICT WARDING ARRANGEMENTS – OPTIONS 1 & 2 15 16 APPENDIX 5 INDIVIDUAL WARD PROFILES WHITTLESEY – NORTH – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2030 VARIANCE -1.36% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Anthony Close Barnes Way Bowker Way Bretts Way Childers Street Commons Road Comptons Brook Crossway Hand Dapple Gardens Glenfields Harvester Road Headlands Way Hinton Close Holland Close Irving Burgess Close Morris Close Northgate Northgate Close Owens Gardens Peterborough Road Plough Road Reidy Gardens Snowley Park Stonald Avenue Stonald Road Sudbury Court Tower Close Tudor Close Waterside Gardens West Delph West End Yarwells Headland Yarwells Walk 17 18 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST This ward is characterised by the external Fenland district boundary, the A605 in addition to the B1040. The community is well established and contains housing estates which have long time affiliations. The ward boundary does not follow the B1040 until its ultimate link with the A605 as this area has closer ties with the town centre rather than the suburban estates. It is proposed that Whittlesey North West is a single member ward as historically the town of Whittlesey is familiar with that arrangement and the electorate feel it provides them with effective representation. It is proposed that all the ward names in Whittlesey Town (parish) are changed to better reflect their geographical location, therefore fostering greater elector understanding. 19 WHITTLESEY CENTRAL – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 1886 VARIANCE -8.36% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Arnolds Lane Barratts Close Bassenhally Court Bassenhally Road Blunts Lane Broad Street Bruces Court Cemetery Road Claygate Cross Road Delph Delph Street Drybread Road East Delph Eastgate Eastgate Mews Eastrea Road Edgars Row Elm Park Finkle Court Finkle Lane Gale Gardens George Gardens Gilbert Close Gracious Street Harpers Close Harts Lane Hemmerley Drive High Causeway James Gardens Lattersey Close Low Cross Market Place Market Street Martin Court Millers Court Monks Close Munday Gardens Norman Close Odin Close Old Crown Lane Oldfield Gardens Orchard Street Owls End Pinewood Avenue Plough Crescent Plough Road Queen Street Reubens Yard Richardson Way Searles Court Stonald Road Syers Lane The Baulk The Paddocks Viking Way Wash Lane West End Whitmore Street Windmill Street 20 21 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST This ward is characterised by the A605 in part as the southern boundary, Broad Street, Market Street and Eastgate also provide the southern boundary. The western boundary is the B1040, in addition to Stonald Road and Plough Road. The eastern boundary flanks the school playing field. Discussions had taken place as to whether Coronation Avenue would provide greater clarity for the eastern boundary however this option was discounted as Coronation Avenue has greater affiliations with Victory Avenue, these two avenues are long established housing estates with close community and family connections. The ward is determined by the town centre which straddles the A605 which is why this is reflected in the make-up of the proposed ward, this naturally forms the heart of the ward in addition to the two schools Alderman Jacobs and Sir Harry Smiths. This ward is proposed as a single member ward. 22 WHITTLESEY NORTH EAST WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2239 VARIANCE 8.79% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Constable Close Constable Crescent Coronation Avenue Crescent Close Crescent Road Curlew Close Davie Lane Drybread Road Eastrea Road Feldale Place Godwit Close Grebe Close Guildenburgh Crescent Gull Way Heron Close Kingfisher Road Ladysmith Avenue Lapwing Drive Mallard Close Moorhen Road Moretons Close Newlands Road Otago Close Otago Road Plover Road Redshank Close Roman Close Sandpiper Close Swallow Close Swan Close Swan Road Teal Road Victory Avenue Whiteacres 23 24 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The northern boundary is determined by the external district boundary, the eastern boundary ties closely with the urban town boundary therefore retaining the town community rather than encompassing the surrounding rural area. The southern boundary is represented by the A605. The ward encompasses Coronation and Victory Avenue which have close associations in terms of them being linked suburban housing areas, therefore both contain similar housing types, the two also have close family connections. The ward is characterised by its suburban nature and density of population. The socio economic characteristics of the ward make it well integrated. Good road links across and within the area also ensure it complies with the criteria of effective and convenient local government. This is proposed as a single member ward. 25 WHITTLESEY WEST - SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2198 VARIANCE 6.80% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Abbey Way Aliwal Road Ashline Grove Ayres Grove Barrs Street Bates Court Boyce Close Braemar Gardens Briggate Crescent Briggate East Briggate Quay Briggate West Broad Street Church Street Churchfield Way Duddington Gardens Eastgate Falcon Lane Fenland Court Garden Grove Hallcroft Road Horsegate Horsegate Lane Inhams Road London Street Love Lane Manor View Mansion Gardens Market Place Market Street Oxford Gardens Paradise Lane Park Lane Parkinsons Lane Peterborough Road Piketts Close Pingle Close Poles Court Portland Place Priors Road Ramsey Road Riverside Close Saxon Road Scaldgate Scaldgate Court Snoots Road St Andrews Place St Marys Street Station Road The Bower The Limes The Old School Mews The Stables Turners Lane Wakelyn Road West End Whitmore Street Willow Close Woolpack Lane 26 27 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The proposed ward boundary to the north is largely represented by the A605 with the only deviation from this being the removal of the geographical centre of the town which is encompassed within the central ward due to the similarity of characteristics of this area. The southern boundary follows the railway line and the eastern boundary largely follows the B1093. The ward is characterised by linked housing estates which contain similar property types. The estates have close affiliations as all the local children attend The Park Lane (Foundation) Primary school which is the heart of this proposed ward. This is proposed as a single member ward 28 WHITTLESEY – EAST WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2179 VARIANCE 5.88% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Aliwal Road Bank Close Bellmans Close Bellmans Grove Bellmans Road Bens Close Bramble Close Buckles Gardens Burdett Grove Cemetery Road Charles Road Cherry Tree Grove Chestnut Crescent Collins Court Debdale Court Diana Close Duckworth Close Eastfield Drive Eastgate Eastrea Road Florence Close Ford Close Forge Close Hannington Close Hawthorne Drive Hunsbury Close Inhams Court Inhams Road Kendall Croft Leeward Gardens Linley Road Marne Road Mill Road Millfield Way Mountbatten Way Mulberry Close Nene Close New Road Nursery Gardens Oldeamere Way Palmer Close Quinion Close Stafford Road Station Road Sycamore Road The Byres The Grove The Rookery Walnut Close Wild Boar Close Windsor Place 29 30 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The northern boundary is represented by the A605, the southern boundary follows the railway line. The eastern boundary follows the track between the railway line and Half Acre Drove and the western boundary follows largely the B1093 and the perimeter of the Manor Leisure Centre. The key roads within the proposed ward are Station Road and New Road as to a great extent all the other roads within the ward join to them. The nature of the proposed ward is largely suburban with the key affiliation for all the local streets being New Road Primary school, this and Lattersey Field Nature reserve form the heart of the ward and ensure there is a great sense of pride and affiliation to the local area. This is proposed as a single member ward 31 BENWICK, COATES AND EASTREA – DUAL MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 4006 ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 2003 VARIANCE -2.67% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Aliwal Road Jones Lane Alpha Close Kelful Close Kings Close Bakehouse Close Kings Delph Barnfield Gardens Beggars Bridge Kings Delph Drove Kings Dyke Benwick Road Lilyholt Road Bevills Pasture Blackbush Drove March Road Blackthorn Court Marriotts Drove Bryony Close Mayfield Road Nene Parade Buntings Drove Neneside Burnthouse Road Burnthouse Sidings Nobles Close North Green Cambers New Drove Oilmills Road Cambridge Row Old West Estate Chapel Gardens Peakes Drive Chapel Lane Quakers Drove Chaplins Close Ramsey Road Chase Road Reach Drove Church Gardens Red Barn Coates Road River Close Cock Bank School Close Crease Bank Skeifs Row Cricketers Way Slatebarn Drove Cross Drove South Green Doddington Road Springfields Drybread Road Station Road Duncombes Road Storers Walk Eastrea Road Summerfield Way Eldernell Lane Farcet Road Sunnyville Road Fields View The Drove The Fold Fieldside The Old Orchard Floods Ferry Road Forty Foot Bank Thornham Way Turf Drove Fountain Close Glassmoor Bank Turningtree Road Green Lane Underwood Close Grounds Way White Hart Drive Hakes Drove Whitecross Hartlands Whittlesey Road Heron Way Willowbrook Drive High Street Wisbech Road Ibbersons Drove Wype Road Jones Drove 32 33 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The northern boundary is determined by the external Fenland district boundary as is the case for the majority of the western boundary, however other elements of the western boundary follow the urban town boundary. The eastern boundary follows the existing Whittlesey parish boundary as we were keen to utilise existing parishes as building blocks for the district warding arrangements. This ward also encompasses the parish of Benwick. There are minimal changes to this warding proposal from the existing warding arrangements. The villages encompassed within the ward have a clear sense of community identity, the villages encompass schools, shops and GP surgeries therefore the villages are largely self- sufficient. Electors within the villages do not associate themselves with the Town of Whittlesey for electoral purposes. Due to the scale of the ward, in order to achieve electoral equality, we propose this remains a dual member ward. 34 CHATTERIS – BIRCH WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2217 VARIANCE 7.73% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Anvil Close Augustus Way Birch Avenue Birch Close Briar Close Bridle Close Chantry Close Church Lane Church Walk Curlew Avenue Delve Terrace Elder Place Farriers Gate Furrowfields Road Glebe Close Green Park Hazel Close Hunters Close Juniper Drive Mallard Close New Road Newlands Road Old School Drive Palmers Walk Queensway Saddlers Way St Francis Drive St Martins Close St Martins Road St Pauls Drive St Peters Drive St Stephens Drive Swan Drive Teal Close The Elms The Orchards The Pastures The Shrubbery Vicarage Close Wesley Drive Windsor Close 35 36 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The north and eastern boundary is formed by the town bypass the A142, the internal boundary follows Furrowfields Road and then weaves round the roads off Market Hill, all these roads with the exception of New Road (B1098) are cul-de-sacs which is why they are proposed to remain within the neighbouring Wenneye Ward to ensure convenient and effective local government. The proposed ward is made up primarily of housing estates, the majority of which come off subsidiary roads from the B1098. All of the estates are connected by a series of footpaths therefore community links are established. In addition all the local children attend Glebelands Primary school which is at the heart of the proposed ward. It is proposed this is a single member ward. 37 CHATTERIS – SLADE LODE WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2219 VARIANCE 7.82% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Albert Way Alma Terrace Angoods Lane Ash Grove Badney Drove Beaufort Drive Beckett Way Beezling Fen Drove Black Horse Lane Bridge Street Burnsfield Estate Burnsfield Street Chapel Lane Coxs Lane Curf Fen Drove Cygnet Drive Dobbs Yard Dock Road Doddington Road Drake Avenue Fenland Way Fenton Way First Drove First Furlong Drove Forty Foot Bank Furrowfields Road George Way Gipson Close Grenadiers Drive Gull Way Harbour Court Heronshaw High Street Honeysome Road Huntingdon Road Johnson Way Kempston Court Kingfisher Close Larham Way Lode Way Marritt Close Old Station Place Parkers Close Pecks Yard Plover Close Porters Yard Pound Road Quaker Way Quayside Railway Lane Ravenscroft Second Drove Slade Way Station Street Tern Gardens The Grove Treeway Turf Fen Lane Westmoor Drove Whaleys Yard Windmill Mews 38 39 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The north and western boundaries following the existing Chatteris parish boundary, therefore building on existing established communities. The eastern boundaries follow in part the A141 until it crosses the forty foot drain, from there the boundary cuts through to the eastern A142 then snaking through the town until it links back with the A141 then onto the centre of the Twenty Foot Drain which links to the parish boundary. Initial discussions centred around the town boundary being restricted to the A142 to the north and east, with the southern boundary being derived from the external district boundary and the western boundary being the A141 until it links with the A142. The issue with this consideration is that the electorate residing in Curf and Willey Terrace to the west of the town clearly identify themselves as town residents, they use the town for shopping and local children attend the local schools namely, Burnsfield Infants School and King Edward Junior School which are both located in this proposed ward. As a result the Focus groups considered the consultation feedback and agreed the boundary of the proposed Slade Load ward should extend to the existing parish boundary to truly reflect established communities of interest. It is proposed that Slade Load is a single member ward. 40 CHATTERIS – THE MILLS WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2184 VARIANCE 6.12% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Beechwood Gardens Blackmill Road Blackthorn Close Chatteris Road Clare Street Eden Crescent Fairbairn Way Fairview Avenue Fairview Crescent Fairview Drive Fairview Gardens Fairway Fen View Garretts Yard Gibside Avenue Haighs Close Harold Heading Close Hinchingbrooke Drive Hive End Court Huntingdon Road James Gage Close Linden Drive London Road Lyons Court Mayfly Close Meadow Close Millfield Close Neils Way Reed Close Rosemary Lane Salem Court Southampton Place Station Road Stocking Drove The Jetty The Sycamores Vincent Close Waterfields West End Close West Street Westbourne Close Westbourne Road Whitemill Road Willow Tree Close Wimpole Street York Road 41 42 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The south, east and western boundaries of the proposed ward are determined by the external district boundary. The northern boundary follows Horseley Fen Drove track until it meets Burrow Pond, cutting across to London Road B1050 until it meets the Station Road junction. The proposed ward encapsulates the interlinked West Street and Fairway Housing Estates that are located to the west of London Road. The rural properties to the south of the ward are accessed from London Road, although these properties are rural in nature, London Road provides the only effective transport link to any settlement without crossing the district boundary, therefore these properties are included within this ward. It is proposed this is a single member ward. 43 CHATTERIS – WENNEYE WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2227 VARIANCE 8.21% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Allens Yard Belmont Gardens Boadicea Court Boxing Boys Mews Cricketers Way East Park Street Eastbourne Close Eastbourne Road Eastwood Ellingham Gardens Halsbury Court High Street Hilda Clarke Close Honey Lane Horsegate Gardens Joshua Close King Edward Road Lindsells Walk London Road Manor Gardens Marian Way Market Hill Megans Way Old Auction Yard Old Forge Gardens Park Street Parkside Railway Lane Ronalds Way Ruston Court South Park Street St Martins Road Station Road Station Street The Hawthorns Tithe Road Tribune Close Victoria Street Wenny Court Wenny Estate Wenny Road Wood Street Woodside 44 45 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The eastern boundary is the A142, the western boundary is provided by the B1050. There is a well-established community contained with the proposed ward as it is made up of suburban estates including housing developments within the town centre. The local children attend the local Cromwell Community College which is a central focus within the ward. The ward is essentially self contained including school faciliites, shops, GP surgeries and two local places of worship. In addition this ward contains the proposed development at Tithe Farm, the forecast electoral figures ensure that even in the unlikely event that this development does not progress to the scale which the Council considers it realistically might, then the electorate will remain within the tolerance figure by the LGBCE 46 MARCH – MARCH WEST WARD – THREE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 6180 ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 2060 VARIANCE 0.10% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Acre Road Adelaide Place Almond Drive Anglers Close Aspenwood Grove Atlantic Close Babble Close Beck Close Birchwood Avenue Blossom Terrace Bluebell Way Boundary Drive Brewin Avenue Broad Street Brook Close Brooks Road Burberry Close Burrowmoor Road Butt Avenue Buttercup Close Causeway Close Causeway Gardens Chapel Street Cherryholt Avenue Cherrywood Avenue Cherrywood Green Chestnut Crescent Church Close Church Street City Road Clover Close Coalville Close Coneywood Road Conway Close Corn Mill Coronation Close Cousins Close Cricketers Close Cross Road Crown Close Dahlia Close Daisy Avenue Dartford Road Deben Close Deptford Close Duncombes Road East Close Ellingham Avenue Elliott Road Ermine Close Fishermans Drive Floods Ferry Road Gas Road Gaul Road Goosetree Estate Grandford Drove Grange Road Grays Lane Gresley Way Hakes Drove Harvester Close Heritage Way High Street Hillside Road Hundred Road Jobs Lane Jones Close Kent Way Kingswood Road Kirk Ogden Close Knights End Road Lewis Close Linwood Lane Maiden Stile Close Marina Drive Marram Court Marylebone Road Meadowlands Middle Road Mill Hill Lane Millfield Close Norwood Road Nursery Drive Oak Tree Close Orwell Drive Oxbow Crescent Pacific Close Park View East Park View West Peas Hill Road Pentland Way Peyton Avenue Phillips Chase Plowright Close Poppy Lane Princess Avenue Prospect Road Ravenhill Drive Rectory Drive Richards Close Richmond Avenue Riverbank Close Rookswood Road Russell Avenue Saxon Way Shaw Drive Smiths Chase Springfield Avenue St Thomas Drive St Wendredas Drive Staceys Way Staffurths Bridge Road Steeple View Summer Gardens Sunflower Avenue Swale Close Swanley Gardens Sycamore Close The Avenue The Birches The Causeway The Chase The Green The Windsors Truman Avenue Turnbull Road Waveney Drive West Close West End West Fen Drove White Horse Gardens Whitemoor Road Whittlesey Road Willow Drive Wimblington Road Windsor Drive Wisbech Road Woodville Drive Yardy Close Yarrow Close 47 48 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The proposed March West ward covers the whole western section of the town, hence local electors will easily identify with the ward name. The northern, southern and western boundaries are provided by the existing March town parish boundary with the eastern boundary commencing from the Mill Hill Roundabout in the south (at the junction with the A141) north via Wimblington Road, High Street, Broad Street, Wisbech Road, Norwood Road, Hundred Road to the northern town boundary. The proposed ward contains the March bypass (A141) and all the areas accessed from this main trunk road, thus ensuring effective and convenient local government. The proposed changes to this ward are minimal as strong local feedback confirmed it reflects local communities. It is recommended that all the March town wards are three member wards, this has been a long established governance arrangement within the town and due to the relative density of population it is felt that a three member ward gives electors ease of accessibility to their elected representatives. There are housing developments scheduled to be built in this proposed ward by 2018, as a result the warding proposal locates some of the proposed development in March West ward and a proportion in March East, this is to ensure that even if the development does not progress at the expected rate, then the estimated increase in electorate is spread across two town wards. This proposal reduces the risk to the forecast electoral figures whilst ensuring that both wards will retain electoral equality as they will remain within the LGBCE tolerance figure of +/- 10% from the average number of electors represented by each councillor. 49 MARCH – MARCH EAST WARD – THREE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 6278 ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 2093 VARIANCE 1.68% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Abbeygate Court Alberts Drive Aldeby Close Apple Grove Apple Tree Close Ashbeach Road Asplin Avenue Badgeney End Badgeney Road Barkers Lane Belmont Road Bevills Place Binnimoor Road Bittern Way Bosworth Way Breton Avenue Britannia View Broad Street Camargue Drive Cavalry Drive Cavalry Park Chandlers Way Cleveland Bay Clydesdale Close Coleseed Road Collingwood Avenue Cotswold Close Creek Road Deerfield Road Dragoon Drive East Drive Eastwood Avenue Elwyn Court Elwyn Road Elwyndene Road Fairfax Way Field Baulk Fleetwood Close Fleming Court Gimbert Square Green Street Grounds Avenue Haslehurst Close Heathcote Close Henry Orbell Close Heron Walk High Street Hook Drove Hook Road Horsemoor Road Hunters Chase Hurst Avenue Hussars Court Ingoldsby Close Ireton Way Jordans Close Kelsey Way Kingfisher Close Mallard Way Mallett Close Market Place Meadow Drive Mill View Mills Gardens Milner Close Monte Long Close Monument View Morton Avenue Nene Parade New Road Noble Gardens Norico Bay North Drive Olivers Way Orchard Close Orchard Road Orchard Road South Papworth Road Percheron Drive Plover Drive River Drive Robshaw Close Rodham Road Rosedene Drive Roses Close Rosewood Close Scargells Yard Shaftesbury Court Sheppersons Grove Sherbrooke Close Silt Road Smiths Drive South Drive St Johns Road St Peters Road Station Road Stonecross Way Strawberry Way Suffolk Way Swallow Way Swift Close The Avenue The Bramleys The Causeway The Greys The Shires The Walnuts Town End Pits Lane Upwell Road West Drive Wherry Close White Lion Close Wigstones Road Wimblington Road Woodlands Avenue Worsley Chase 50 51 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The eastern and southern boundaries of this proposed ward are provided by the existing March (town) parish boundary, thus we intend to utilise the existing parishes which representative of existing established communities as building blocks for the proposed warding arrangements. The western boundary follows the main Wimblington Road through the High Street and Broad Street where it meets the northern boundary at Station Road, this boundary progresses to St John’s Road back to the river at which point the boundary follows the river where it joins the eastern boundary. Changes to this proposed ward are limited as the ward takes in existing well established communities. The ward is self sufficient encompassing shops, health care provision in addition the community is linked by Cavalry Primary School. A new housing development is scheduled to be developed in this area prior to 2018, this forecast in electorate growth has been considered when formulating the proposed warding arrangements. Should the development not progress as expected the electorate figures are future proof as the development is split between the proposed March East ward and March West, therefore electoral equality is maintained if the development progresses in accordance with expectations or not. Similar to March West it is proposed to retain this ward as a three member ward due to the long established governance arrangement within the town, whilst also enabling ease of accessibility for local electors to their respective political representatives. 52 MARCH – MARCH NORTH WARD – THREE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 5972 ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 1991 VARIANCE -3.27% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Acacia Grove Alder Close Alexander Gardens Alftruda Close All Saints Close Alpha Street Ash Grove Beech Grove Berryfield Blue Ridge Gardens Bramble Walk Bronze Street Burn Street Burnet Gardens Campbell Way Cawood Close Cedar Close Century Way College Gardens County Road Cowslip Place Creek Fen Creek Road Cromwell Road Dagless Way Dartford Road Darthill Road Elm Close Elm Road Estover Road Flaggrass Hill Road Foxglove Way Gold Street Gordon Avenue Great Eastern Road Great Northern Close Harebell Close Hawthorne Grove Henford Gardens Henson Road Hereward Street High School Close Highfield Road Hobart Court Hundred Road Kingsley Street Laburnum Grove Landau Way Lime Grove Locomotive Drive Longhill Road Maple Grove Marsh Close Mayors Close Nene Parade New Park Newlands Avenue Nightall Drive North Street Norwalde Street Norwood Avenue Norwood Crescent Norwood Road Peterhouse Crescent Poplar Close Primrose Crescent Princes Walk Queen Street Close Queens Street Regent Avenue Riverdown Robingoodfellows Lane Roman Way Shaftesbury Avenue Silver Street Southwell Close St Johns Chase St Johns Road St Marys Drive Station Road Stephenson Close Stevens Way Swan Court Swanton Close The Hollies The Junction The Laurels The Parks Thornton Road Wake Road Waterside Gardens Westwood Avenue Wheel Centre Wigstones Road Wilkinson Close Willowherb Close Wisbech Road 53 54 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The northern boundary is provided by the existing March (town) parish boundary along Twenty Foot River. The eastern boundary follows the river to ST John’s Road and Station Road through Dartford Road onto Wisbech Road. The mini roundabout at Wisbech Road, Norwood Road is the split for the western boundary, which follows Norwood Road north into Hundred Road past Her Majesty’s Prison, Whitemoor where it terminates at the existing (town) parish boundary. Due to the nature of the proposed ward it is self-sufficient containing shops, schools including Westwood Junior School, Maple Grove Infants School and All Saints Interchurch Primary School, all of which are a hub for local community activities. In addition the ward contains one of the largest employers in the town, Whitemoor Prison therefore transport links within the areas are well established and the social club provides a focus for local community activities. Similar to March West and East it is proposed to retain this ward as a three member ward due to the long established governance arrangement within the town. These proposed warding arrangements reflect established local communities whilst also enabling ease of accessibility for local electors to their respective political representatives. 55 DODDINGTON WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD / DUAL WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE AS A SINGLE MEMBER WARD 1910 VARIANCE -7.19% 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE AS A DUAL MEMBER WARD WITH WIMBLINGTON 3705 ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 1853 VARIANCE -9.99% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Ancaster Way Beech Avenue Beezling Fen Drove Benwick Road Bevills Close Brickmakers Arms Lane Burdett Close Carpenters Way Cedar Avenue Chestnut Close Childs Lane Church Lane Cooks Green Cornfields Cowslip Close Cypress Close Dexter Close Doddington Road Drivers Close Dykemoor Drove Dykemoor Drove North Eastalls Close Eastmoor Lane Fen View Floods Ferry Road Forty Foot Bank Harvest Close High Street Holly Drive Hospital Road Huntingdon Road Hunts Close Ingles Lane Knights Close Manor Estate Miller Close New Street Newgate Street Oaktree Close Orchard Drive Parsons Land Drove Peyton Close Primrose Hill Puddock Road Ronalds Way Sutton Way The Cherries The Grange The Larches The Oaks The Rowans Thistledown Turf Fen Lane Walden Close Willow Close Wimblington Road Wood Street 56 57 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST During the extensive consultation period, Doddington Ward, as highlighted earlier in the report, is one of the wards where a consensus of opinion was not reached. As a result, the cross party Member Working Group agreed that, both options considered should be put forward to the LGBCE to enable them to make an informed decision as to the warding arrangement they would like to consult the wider public in relation to. Option 1: This option proposes to retain Doddington as a single member ward. In this scenario it is proposed that the ward should reflect entirely the existing Doddington Parish Boundary. Option 2: This option would involve the neighbouring ward Wimblington. Should this option be taken forward by the LGBCE Doddington and Wimblington would be combined and become a dual member ward. This option has been considered during the consultation phase as Wimblington as a single member ward does not achieve the LGBCE threshold in terms of electoral equality. The projected electorate in 2018 would result in the ward having an electoral variance of -12.78% from the average. Should this be the LGBCE preferred option the proposed dual ward would follow the existing parish boundaries of Doddington and Wimblington. OPTION OPTION 1 SINGLE MEMBER WARD OPTION 2 DUAL MEMBER WARD MEMBER FEEDBACK MEMBER FEEDBACK PROS CONS • Neighbouring ward • Achieves electoral equality for cannot attain Doddington electoral equality • Maintains community identity • Reflects Parish Council views • Achieves LGBCE criteria of effective and convenient local government • Maintains village self sufficiency • Future proof • • • Achieves electoral equality across neighbouring parishes, Doddington and Wimblington Builds on links between the villages which are informally established Future proof • • Dilution of community Local opposition 58 • Achieves LGBCE criteria of effective and convenient local government 59 WIMBLINGTON WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD / DUAL WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE AS A SINGLE MEMBER WARD 1795 VARIANCE -12.78% 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE AS A DUAL MEMBER WARD WITH DODDINGTON 3705, ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 1853, VARIANCE -9.99% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Access Road Off Manea Road Addison Road Ash Tree Close Block Fen Drove Blue Lane Bridge Lane Byall Fen Drove Chapel Lane Church Street Coney Walk Coneywood Road Dobson Walk Doddington Road Dolby Close Eastwood End Eaton Estate Fenland Close Frogs Abbey Lane Fullers Lane Governess Close Greenwood Way Hassock Way Honeymead Road Hook Lane Hook Road Horsemoor Road King Street Lyon Walk Manea Road March Road Meadow Way Meadow Way South Morley Way Morton Way Nixhill Road Norfolk Street Norman Way Old Bakery Close Orchard Way Parkfield Lane Pond Close Ray Court Rhonda Park Rose Cottage Gardens Sixteen Foot Bank St Peters Drive The Chase The Paddocks Tudor Place Waggoners Way Walnut Tree Walk Webb Gardens Wimblington Road Woodysfield 60 61 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST As documented in the previous evidence relating to Doddington Ward, Wimblington is an area where, during the consultation period, consensus was not reached. As a result there are potentially three options for Wimblington which the cross party Member Working Group have agreed be put forward to the LGBCE for consideration. Option 1: This option would retain Wimblington as a single member ward, should this be the preferred option of the LGBCE, the proposed ward would follow entirely the existing Wimblington parish boundary. Option 2: This option would combine Wimblington with Doddington and create this as a dual member ward. As mentioned previously should this option be endorsed by the LGBCE the dual member ward would reflect the boundaries of Doddington and Wimblington Parishes. OPTION OPTION 1 SINGLE MEMBER WARD OPTION 2 DUAL MEMBER WARD MEMBER FEEDBACK MEMBER FEEDBACK PROS CONS • Maintains • LGBCE criteria of community identity electoral equality is not achieved in • Reflects Doddington Wimblington Parish Council views • Limited future • Achieves LGBCE proofing criteria of effective and convenient local government • • • • Achieves electoral equality across neighbouring parishes, Doddington and Wimblington Builds on links between the villages which are informally established Future proof Achieves LGBCE criteria of effective and convenient local government • • Dilution of community Local opposition 62 MANEA WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 1924, VARIANCE -6.51% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Access Road From Iretons Way To Greys Farm Horsle* Acorn Lane Annabelle Avenue Barkclay Court Bedford Bank Bedford View Block Fen Drove Byall Fen Drove Carpenters Close Cathedral View Charlemont Drive Days Lode Road Dunvegan Close East Street Edwards Way Engine Bank Fallow Corner Drove Festival Close Fifty Road Fodder Fen Road Georgina Close Glebe Close Hiblings Row High Street Holly Close Horseway Hutchinson Close Iretons Way Jolley Close Langwood Fen Drove Langwood Hill Drove New Road Nightingale Walk Normoor Drove Orchard Close Orchard Way Park Road Parkview Lane Poppyfields Providence Place Purls Bridge Drove Rutland Way Scholars Close School Lane Short Drive Sixteen Foot Bank Station Road Straight Road Swallow Court Teachers Close The Bank Tucks Yard Valentine Close Wenny Road Westfield Road Williams Way Willow Drive Wimblington Road Wisbech Road 63 64 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The proposed ward largely encapsulates the existing parish of Manea, therefore retaining existing established communities; this is certainly reflected in the northern boundary, the eastern boundary is the external Fenland district boundary, it is proposed to extend the southern boundary down to the proposed new boundary for Birch and The Mills ward in Chatteris, namely the A142 to the Forty Foot Drain where it joins back to the A141. Whilst the proposed changes to Manea appear geographically substantial, it is not proposed that the ward name is changed as the rural properties which are proposed to move into the Manea ward from the existing Chatteris parish, all currently associate themselves with Manea rather than Chatteris. The proposal includes moving all the properties along the route from Manea to A142, via Horseway and all the properties accessed from the A142. This ensures the LGBCE criteria of convenient and effective local government is addressed as all the properties have good road access to Manea village, which is the natural focus of the ward. Making these changes does involve moving more than 100 electors from the existing Chatteris parish, therefore warding this area until such time as a community governance review can be under taken to realign all the boundaries, would be viable. Manea ward is rural in its nature, the central village is self- sufficient, as it contains a local shop, post office, public house, village hall and Royal British Legion Hall, both of which tend to be the focus of community events. In addition Manea also has a primary school which is a focal point for local children. The village also hosts a retained Fire Station and in addition benefits from a railway station, as a direct result of the station there tends to be movement from the surrounding rural properties into the village. 65 ELM AND CHRISTCHURCH WARD – DUAL MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 3904, ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 1952, VARIANCE -5.15% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Abington Grove All Saints Close Atkinsons Lane Back Road Begdale Road Belt Drove Birch Grove Bramley Court Bullfinch Way Cedar Way Church Grove Church Road Coldham Bank Coldham Estate Colletts Bridge Lane Crown Avenue Crown Drove Crown Road Curston Close Ecton Grove Elm Low Road Elmwood Mews Euximoor Drove Fen View Fen Way Flint Way Fridaybridge Road Goosetree Estate Gosmoor Lane Grace Court Graysmoor Drove Green Lane Grove Gardens Halfpenny Lane Halfpenny Toll Road Henry Warby Avenue High Road Holly Avenue Ingle Road Jew House Drove Kilderkin Close Kirkhams Lane Laddus Drove Laurel Drive Long Drove Low Road Main Road Maltmas Drove Maple Road March Riverside March Road Mill Way Molls Drove Mumbys Drove Needham Bank Nettle Bank New Bridge Lane Oldfield Avenue Orchard Close Outwell Road Overstone Drive Overstone Road Padgetts Road Peartree Way Poulters Drove Primrose Gardens Queens Drive Redmoor Bank Reed Way Rose Lane Roseberry Road Rotten Drove Scotts Road Sixteen Foot Bank South Brink St Giles Grove Station Road Sywell Grove The Croft The Hill The Leam The Oaks The Stitch Thurlands Drove Tower Road Turf Lot Drove Twenty Foot Road Upwell Road 66 Limes Avenue Wales Bank Wayside Estate Well End West Drive Wisbech Road 67 68 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The proposed ward encapsulates entirely the Parishes of Elm and Christchurch, this is currently a dual member ward and it is proposed the current governance arrangements remain in place. Retaining the current ward boundary maintains the rural character of this area as both parishes have a village association at the heart of their communities, even though Elm is geographically close to Wisbech. Maintaining the current warding arrangement builds on existing communities, achieves electoral equality in addition to facilitating effective and convenient local government albeit over a large geographical area. There is strong local opinion that Elm and Friday Bridge remain linked in a warding arrangement as the two settlements have close associations and evidence suggests electors travel between the two settlement areas. Although further afield from the other main settlements in the area, Christchurch is similar in character to Elm and Friday Bridge, all three of the main settlements in the area are self- supporting with shops, public houses and places of worship, all three settlements are of a similar socio-economic make-up. It is proposed to retain this area as a dual member ward. 69 WISBECH - WATERLEES VILLAGE WARD – DUAL MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 4373, ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 2187, VARIANCE 6.24% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Acacia Avenue Admirals Drive Apeldoorn Walk Armada Close Bath Road Beatrice Road Beechwood Close Beechwood Road Braeburn Avenue Bramley Road Brigstock Road Buckingham Walk Cherry Road Coblands Coldhorn Crescent Conference Way Crab Marsh Eastfield Road Edinburgh Drive Gloucester Court Goddard Crescent Godwin Road Granger Close Grosvenor Road Haley Close Hawthorne Avenue Hedgelands Henson Close Jubilee Walk Kinderley Road Kooreman Avenue Lime Avenue Lynn Road Maple Avenue Mount Pleasant Road Myles Way Nursery Drive Ollard Avenue Osborne Road Payne Avenue Potter Court Prince Of Wales Close Prins Avenue Prins Court Richard Young Close Savory Road Sherwood Avenue Southfields Close Southwell Road St Martins Road St Michaels Avenue Storbeck Road Tindall Close Tinkers Drove Walton Road Waterlees Road Westfield Road Weston Miller Drive Windmill Gardens Windsor Drive Worcester Road 70 71 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST Waterlees Village’s Ward boundary to the north is provided by the external Fenland District boundary, Lynn Road provides the eastern boundary, the south western boundary is provided by Mount Pleasant Road to the point at which it reaches the River Nene which provides the strong geographical western boundary. The proposed ward is densely populated, a substantial proportion of registered electors in the area do not have English as their first language. The ward is recognised as having deprivation issues and therefore the area is made up of similar socio-economic factors. The area contains within it a local Primary school, Cherry Orchards which tends to be the focus of community activities. In addition the area also benefits from the Oasis Community and Children’s Centre which features centrally in the ward and is a hive of activity within the community. There are a number of play parks located within the ward, such as Waterlees Adventure Playground, run by Cambridgeshire County Council, which also provides a focus for local children. There is a strong sense of community within the ward, which is reflected in the proposed name change to Waterlees Village Ward, it is felt this will further encourage that sense of community and local pride in the area. It is proposed this is a dual member ward. 72 WISBECH - KIRKGATE WARD - SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2052, VARIANCE -0.29% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Baxter Close Black Bear Lane Church Road Clarence Road Fen Close Fenland Road Grimmers Road Jasmin Close Jeffery Avenue Kirkgate Street Laburnum Close Lebanon Drive Lerowe Road Lilac Close Lucombe Drive Lynn Road Norwich Road Oaklands Drive Old Lynn Road Pendula Road Petts Close Rectory Gardens Rowan Close Sandringham Avenue Sefton Avenue Steeple View Tavistock Road Trafford Park Trafford Road Turnpike Close Wistaria Road York Gardens York Road 73 74 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The north east boundary to the proposed ward is represented by the external Fenland district boundary, the south eastern boundary is provided by Norwich Road to the point it joins the back of Colville Road, across Trafford Park onto York Road and Clarkson Avenue to the point at which it joins Lynn Road (B198) which formulates the western boundary. The ward is characterised by its urban feel. Whilst it is not the town centre it is a busy and densely populated ward. The main focus of the ward tends to be the two schools located in Trafford Road, namely Clarkson Infant and Nursery school in addition to St Peters Church of England aided Junior School. The area also centres around Fenland Park which is the old site of Wisbech Town Football club. It is suggested that Kirkgate ward is not subject to any changes as part of the LGBCE review of warding arrangements as the strength of feedback received supported the fact that the ward was well established and reflected the sense of community in the area. In addition the existing warding arrangements also meet the LGBCE criteria in relation to electoral equality and convenient and effective local government. It is proposed this is a single member ward. 75 WISBECH – STAITHE WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 1922, VARIANCE -6.61% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Ardleigh Close Boyces Road Bush Lane Chapnall Road Church Road Claremont Road Clayton Close Cocketts Drive Council Road Felsted Avenue Frinton Way Fundrey Road Guild Road Halstead Close Hawkins Drive Hermitage Close Holmes Drive Kirkgate Street Maldon Road Meadowgate Lane Medway Close Money Bank Musticott Place Norwich Close Norwich Road Oakley Close Octavia Close Orchard Drive Peldon Drive Quaker Lane Rochford Walk Salcott Drive Seabank Road Staithe Road Stow Gardens Stow Lane Stow Road Sylvden Drive Trinity Road Welbeck Road 76 77 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The northern, eastern and western boundary of the ward is provided by the Fenland external district boundary the western boundary meets the other internal town boundaries the boundary is provided by Quaker Lane onto Money Bank, which links into Boyces Road to the junction with Norwich Road where it travels north to the external district boundary. It is recommended that Staithe ward remains as it is currently with no changes proposed as a result of the LGBCE warding arrangement project. The ward contains Staithe Road which is where the name for the ward was derived and therefore local electors can identify clearly with the area. The ward is suburban in its nature. It features Meadowgate School within the area which is a school for children with Special Needs. In addition the other main feature within the ward is the College of West Anglia Isle Campus which is a further education college for students aged 16+, the college serves a wide geographical area therefore transport links within the ward are well established. It is proposed this is a single member ward. 78 WISBECH – CLARKSON WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2237, VARIANCE 8.70% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Albany Road Albion Place Balding Close Bedford Street Blackfriars Road Blencowe Terrace Bowthorpe Hall Gardens Bowthorpe Road Chase Street Church Mews Church Terrace Clarkson Avenue Clarkson Court Colvile Road De Havilland Road Falcon Road Hampden Road Hanchant Court Henry Street Hereward Road High Street Hill Street Hogherds Lane Kenlan Road King Street Legion Walk Little Church Street Lynn Road Market Place Marsh Walk Mill Close Mount Pleasant Road Nelson Gardens Nene Quay New Bell Lane New Inn Yard Norwich Road Oakroyd Crescent Opportune Road Palmers Place Park Avenue Park Road Park Street School Lane Scrimshires Passage Silver Street St Augustines Road Sybil Road Tavistock Road Townshend Road Trafalgar Court Trafford Road Union Street Verdun Road Wellington Terrace Wilberforce Road William Road York Terrace 79 80 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST Clarkson Ward features one of the central areas of Wisbech, the northern boundary is provided by Mount Pleasant Road, adjoining Waterlees Village Ward. The eastern boundary adjoins Kirkgate and Staithe Wards, following Lynn Road (B198) to Clarkson Avenue where it takes in Nelson Gardens and Colville Road. At the junction with Norwich Road the boundary takes a southerly direction to Churchill Road (A1101) to Church Terrace where it cuts through Wisbech Market Place, onto Bridge Street and then joins the Nene River which then provides the Western boundary back to Mount Pleasant Road. The ward is a busy and thriving community, containing an industrial area to the north and a greater density of electors in the east. At the heart of the ward is the award winning Wisbech Park which is a key feature in the community used by all age groups. The ward also features the hospital, ambulance station, Police station and Court House, the ward also contains several places of worship. Clarkson Avenue is contained within the ward which is where the area derived its name, this fosters affinity and a sense of pride in the area. It is proposed this is a single member ward. 81 WISBECH – OCTAVIA HILL WARD – DUAL MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 4454, ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 2227, VARIANCE 8.21% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Albert Court Arles Avenue Awdry Drive Blenheim Way Borough Close Boyces Road Boyden Court Bruce Close Camargue Place Chapel Street Churchill Road Copperfields Coppins Court Cordon Street Corporation Road Discovery Walk Duke Street Earl Street Eighth Avenue Elizabeth Terrace Elm High Road Elm Low Road Elm Road Falklands Drive Fifth Avenue First Avenue Fourth Avenue Golding Place Halfpenny Lane Harrys Way Hazel Gardens Heron Road John F Kennedy Court Kestrel Drive Kingfisher Drive Kingswood Park Lake Court Larksfield Leach Close Les Baux Place Lonsdale Terrace Mansell Road Mayflower Road Meadowgate Lane Mikanda Close Milner Road Money Bank Mount Drive New Drove Norwich Road Peckover Drive Penrose Gardens Pippin Place Prince Street Prospect Place Provence Place Quaker Lane Queen Elizabeth Drive Railway Road Ramnoth Road Raymond Street Redwing Drive Rhone Place Robin Mews Roscoe Terrace Rose Fair Close Second Avenue Seventh Avenue Sixth Avenue Spartan Close Sunset Gardens Third Avenue Thurloe Close Trotwood Mews Victoria Place Victoria Road Weasenham Lane Wedgwood Drive West Street Westmead Avenue Weston Road Wickfield Court Willow Way 82 83 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST Octavia Hill Ward exactly reflects the existing Hill Ward of Wisbech, the name change is suggested as the current name Hill is not widely understood by the local electorate, where as Octavia Hill was born in the area and is famous for her work in Social Reform and as the co-founder of the National Trust. The name change is proposed in order to foster greater understanding by local people whilst also facilitating a sense of pride in the area. The northern boundary adjoins Clarkson ward and Staithe ward in the town. The northern boundary commences at Norwich Road to the point it branches east onto Boyces Road. The eastern boundary follows Boyces Road to Money bank and onto Quaker lane. This follows onto Meadowgate Lane which provides the boundary until it reaches the back of Westmead Avenue which follows the existing Wisbech town (parish) boundary onto the A47 until it meets New Bridge Lane then onto New Drove which formulates the start of the western ward boundary. The boundary follows New Drove onto Weasenham Lane, north to Sandall Road, Railway Road, along Victoria Road, then via West Street to Churchill Road (A1101) until it meets the northern boundary. The ward is characterised by its urban nature. It is a busy area which benefits from local schools including Ramnoth Junior School, The Nene County Infant and Nursery school, the College of West Anglia on Elm High Road in addition to the Thomas Clarkson Academy, all of which provide a focus for the community and support local activities. Attendance at the local schools also unites the residents in the area. It is recommended Octavia Hill ward remains a dual member ward due to the density of population therefore ensuring electors have access to their locally elected representative. 84 WISBECH – MEDWORTH WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2189, VARIANCE 6.37% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Abraham Drive Alexandra Road Artillery Street Broad Drove Burdett Road Cannon Street Castle Mews Chapel Lane Charles Street Chestnut Road Church Terrace Cox Close Crescent Passage Cromwell Road Crooked Bank Ellerby Drive Elm Road Ely Place Fardell Road Great Eastern Road Hillburn Road John Thompson Road Kings Road Kings Walk Kingsley Avenue Lickings Drove Loring Lane Love Lane Malt Drive Market Place Market Street Museum Square New Bridge Lane New Drove Norfolk Street Norwich Street Old Convent Fields Oldfield Lane Onyx Court Orange Grove Post Office Lane Princes Road Queens Road Railway Road Redmoor Lane Rigg Close Riverside Way Sandall Road Somers Court Somers Road South Brink St Pauls Close St Peters Road Station Drive The Crescent Union Place Victoria Road Victory Road Weasenham Lane West Street Wisbech Bypass York Row 85 86 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST The proposed ward of Medworth broadly reflects the existing ward. The northern boundary represents the only change in the area. It is proposed this moves south to enable the ward to achieve electoral equality. The proposed northern boundary will now follow Bridge Street, High Street and Wisbech Market Place and follows Church Terrace onto the A1101. As a result the Cresent, which is a key Georgian feature in the ward, remains within the curtilage of Medworth Ward. The eastern boundary meets Churchill Road (A1101) to the West Street junction, it continues to travel south west onto West Road, Victoria Road, Railway Road, Sandall Road and into Weasenham Lane continuing south onto New Drove over the A47 and ultimately to the existing Wisbech Town (parish ) boundary which we are proposing to retain as the southern boundary in order to preserve established communities and utilise parishes as the building blocks for the proposed warding arrangements. The western boundary then follows the River Nene right back to the point where it joins the northern boundary. Medworth ward adjoins Clarkson to the North, Octavia Hill to the East and Peckover to the west. The ward encapsulates the town centre and key commercial areas of the town including the Cromwell Road developments, thus ensuring effective road links within the area to support convenient and effective local government. It is proposed this is a single member ward. 87 WISBECH – PECKOVER WARD – SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 2014, VARIANCE -2.14% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Ashdale Park Barton Road Bevis Lane Brampton Close Burcroft Road Cambridge Drive Cattle Market Chase Chapel Road Coxs Lane Cricketers Way Cross Lane Exchange Square Gadds Lane Grange Road Harecroft Road Leverington Common Leverington Road Lords Lane Magazine Close Magazine Lane Manor Gardens Marlborough Court Mile Tree Lane Morgans Court North Brink North End North Street Octagon Drive Oil Mill Lane Old Market Panswell Lane Pedley Lane Pickards Way Purbeck Close Richmond Court Rose Walk Sandy Lane Sovereign Close Strawberry Close Summerfield Close The Lawns The Water Gardens Tower Gardens West Parade Woodcote Park 88 89 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST It is recommended that Peckover Ward is not subject to any changes as a result of the LGBCE review of district warding arrangements. The northern, southern and western boundaries of the ward all following the existing Wisbech Town (parish) boundaries therefore utilising these established communities as building blocks for the proposed warding arrangements. The eastern boundary adjoins Medworth ward and is provided entirely by the River Nene representing a strong geographical boundary. The proposed ward is densely populated in the north and properties of a more rural nature in the south, all however are linked by strong road networks and all can be access via North Brink. The northern more densely populated area benefits from having Peckover Primary school located within it which is the focus for local residents and community activities. The ward also encompasses The Hudson Leisure Centre and sports fields off Harecroft Road, which again are a key focus for community events. Peckover House is an elegant Georgian Town House with walled garden this in addition to Elgoods Brewery provide two of the key tourist attractions for Wisbech. It is recommended Peckover ward is a single member ward. 90 ROMAN BANK WARD – THREE MEMBER WARD 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE 5538, ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 1846, VARIANCE 10.30% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD Ferry Lane Allens Drove Field Avenue Anderson Close Fieldside View Back Road Fitton End Road Bank Drive Fold Lane Bedford Row Bees Lane Franks Lane Birds Drove Front Road Gadds Lane Black Dyke Gate End Bridge Black Lane Glebe Close Bledwick Drove Glendon Gardens Bona Lane Goodens Lane Brewers Lane Goredike Bank Broad Drove East Gorefield Road Broad Drove West Gote Lane Bythorne Bank Grangehill Road Carlton Close Green Lane Catlings Lane Gypsy Lane Cats Lane Hall Bank Cattle Dyke Hannath Road Chalk Road Harolds Bank Chapel Lane Hassock Hill Drove Chapter Gardens High Broadgate Chaucer Close High Road Christopher Drive High Side Church End Hockland Road Church Lane Hogens Lane Church Road Honeyhill Road Church View Churchill Road Horseshoe Terrace Colvile Road Ivesdyke Close Karrow Meadows Cross Drove Keillers Close Crown Close Decoy Road Kentra Close Kirkgate Donington Park Dowgate Road Knights Close Eaudyke Bank Leafere Way Elloe Bank Leverington Farriers Court Common Fen Road Leverington Road Fendyke Lane Little Dowgate Little Ramper Littlechild Drive Main Road Malvern Gardens Mays Lane Maysfield Drive Middle Broad Drove Mill Lane Milton Drive Mountbatten Drive Munday Way Newgate Road Orchard Close Orchard Gardens Oxburgh Close Oxfield Drive Park Lane Park Road Parson Drove Lane Pear Tree Crescent Peatlings Lane Perry Road Popes Lane Popple Drove Rectory Road Redgate Road Richmond Green Richmond Way Ringers Lane River Terrace Roman Bank Roman Court Sandy Lane Seafield Road Sees Lane Short Lane St James Close St Leonards Road St Marks Road St Pauls Close Stables Court Sutton Meadows Sutton Road Swains Drove Swallow Lane The Barracks The Chase The Paddocks The Still Top Field Troughton Way WalsinghamCourt Walton Road WaverleyGardens West End Westfield Road Wolf Lane WoodfordGardens WoodgateRoad Woolcroft Close 91 92 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST It is recommended that Roman Bank Ward remains the same as the existing warding arrangements and is therefore not subject to any changes as a result of the LGBCE warding review. The ward encapsulates in its entirety the parishes of Tydd St Giles, Newton, Leverington and Gorefield, these are recognised and long established village communities, which are all serviced by individual parish council’s. Whilst all the main villages do have their own parish council arrangements they are similar in nature, they are all characterised by their rural focus. Each of the main village settlements benefits from a local primary school with the exception of Newton, whose local children attend Tydd St Giles Primary school, which forges links between the two villages. Due to the relative sparsity of population in this area maintaining the already established linkages between villages effectively achieves electoral equality. The distribution of the electorate in the area between the four parishes does not easily facilitate splitting them into single member wards. The amalgamation of four parishes to form one, three member ward is the best solution in terms of electoral equality, even though this does result in elector figures reaching the LGBCE outside tolerance threshold. The options for alternative warding arrangement in relation to this area are also constrained by the external district boundary which formulates the ward boundary on three sides. It is proposed that Roman bank remains a three member ward. 93 PARSON DROVE/ WISBECH ST MARY WARD – TWO SINGLE MEMBER WARDS/ DUAL MEMBER WARD. PARSON DROVE AND MURROW 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE AS A SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2063, VARIANCE 0.24% WISBECH ST MARY AND GUYHIRN 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE AS A SINGLE MEMBER WARD 2077, VARIANCE 0.92% 2018 FORECAST ELECTORATE FIGURE FOR PARSON DROVE, WISBECH ST MARY AS A DUAL MEMBER WARD 4140, ELECTORS PER COUNCILLOR 2070, VARIANCE 0.58% ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD WISBECH ST MARY AND GUYHIRN Barton Road Beechings Close Bevis Lane Blundell Terrace Cannon Close Cants Drove Chapel Avenue Chapelfield Road Church Road Churchfield Way Churchgate Folleys Drove Galls Drove Garden Lane Glebe Gardens Gull Drove Gull Road High Road Hillcrest Drive Homelands Jackson Close Mayfair Gardens Mouth Lane Mowbray Close Murrow Lane Nene Close New Drove North Bank North Brink Panswell Lane Plash Drove Rat Row Riverbank Close Rummers Lane Sandbank Sayers Crescent School Close Selwyn Corner Spencer Drove St Marys Close Station Drive Station Road The Birches The Jetty Thorney Road Walnut Close Waverley Close Willock Lane Woodhouse Close Woodland Gardens Wykes Drive Yokine Gardens 94 ROADS IN THE PROPOSED WARD PARSON DROVE AND MURROW Back Road Black Drove Brewery Close Bridge Drove Cants Drove Common Bank Common Drove Common Road Cross Guns Road Elbow Lane Fen Road Front Road Gull Drove Harolds Bank High Side Hooks Drove Ingham Hall Gardens Inhams Close John Bends Way Johnsons Drove Lakeside Close Lindens Close Long Drove Main Road Marshalls Bank Mill Close Mill Road Murrow Bank Murrow Lane Newlands Road Parnell Road Patricks Way Pentelow Close Riverside Gardens Seadyke Bank Sealeys Lane Silvers Lane Springfield Road Station Avenue Station Road Swan Bridge Swan Gardens The Bank The Pigeons Thorney Road Wisbech Road 95 96 97 EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST During the extensive consultation period, Parson Drove and Wisbech St Mary Ward, as highlighted earlier in the report, is one of the wards where a consensus of opinion was not reached. As a result, the cross party Member Working Group agreed that, both options considered should be put forward to the LGBCE for enable them to make an informed decision as to the warding arrangement they would like to consult the wider public in relation to. OPTION 1: Retain Parson Drove and Wisbech St Mary as a dual member ward, should this be the preferred option of the LGBCE, the proposed ward would follow entirely the existing Parson Drove and Wisbech St Mary parish boundaries. The northern and western boundaries for which are represented by the external district boundary, the eastern boundary adjoins the proposed Roman bank Ward and Wisbech Town (parish) boundary, with the southern boundary provided by the A47 and Elm and Christchurch ward boundary. OPTION 2: Split Parson Drove and Murrow into a single member ward and also make Wisbech St Mary and Guyhirn a single member ward. In the event that this is the preferred option of the LGBCE, the proposed Parson Drove Ward would benefit from having the northern and western boundaries provided by the external district boundary the eastern boundary would adjoin Roman bank ward to the north then follow the drain network to the south of Murrow to the B1187. The boundary then follows the dismantled railway line to the boundary of the Elm and Christchurch ward at the southern boundary. The newly created Wisbech St Mary ward would adjoin Roman Bank ward to the north, adjoin Peckover ward to the east, Elm and Christchurch ward to the south and the newly formed Parson Drove ward to the west. OPTION MEMBER FEEDBACK MEMBER FEEDBACK PROS CONS OPTION 1- RETAIN • Achieves electoral • Local opposition EXISTING DUAL MEMBER equality WARD • Maintains community identity • Achieves LGBCE criteria of effective and convenient local government • Builds on existing elector comprehension of warding arrangements • Future proof • Recognises movement between 98 • OPTION 2 -ESTABLISH TWO SINGLE MEMBER WARDS • • • • • villages for shopping and social activities Elector choice regarding which elected representative to contact Achieves electoral equality Greater transparency of political representation Facilitates greater links between villages in single member wards Future proof Achieves LGBCE criteria of effective and convenient local government • • • Dilution of community Local opposition Splits the Parish of Wisbech St Mary between two district wards 99