Fury over proposed boundary changes for Warrington

FURIOUS Liberal Democrat leaders in Warrington have slammed the report by the Local Government Boundary Commission containing the final proposals for electoral ward boundaries in the town. 
They accuse the Commission of completely ignoring the views of local residents and carrying out a public consultation that was an “utter farace.”
The recommendations  have also been criticised by the Conservatives.
Revealed exclusively by Warrington-Worldwide yesterday (Tuesday). the proposals are the same as those  published in draft form in the summer.  These attracted widespread criticism from residents and councillors on the grounds they rode roughshod over the identity of local communities.
Warrington Liberal Democrat chairman, Cllr Ian Marks said: “This is an appalling report and demonstrates that the public consultation was an utter farce. Faceless bureaucrats sitting in their ivory tower in London, surrounded by maps and tables, have completely ignored the views of local people.  It is an affront to democracy and the Commission should be ashamed of itself.
“So much for the comment from the Commission chairman  that he wanted to make sure that ward boundaries across Warrington reflect identities and interests of local communities.
“It also makes a mockery of the comment in the report that says the Commission will ‘try to recommend strong identifiable boundaries for the wards’.”
Cllr Bob Barr, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Warrington Borough Council added: “There were around 100 submissions to the consultation from residents in the south of the town.  They objected to half of Lymm being linked to Thelwall and part of Grappenhall, to changes in the boundary between Stockton Heath and Appleton and to Appleton Thorn being put in with Grappenhall.  Proposing a 10 member parish ward in Stockton Heath alongside a single member and a two member ward is just plain stupid and you could end up with a ballot paper with 40 names on it!
“We submitted an alternative proposal which met the overriding objective of keeping variances in electors per member at no more than 10 per cent but also met the other two criteria of retaining ‘local community interests and identity’ and ‘promoting effective and convenient local government’.
“This has been swept aside by the bureaucrats because obviously people in London must know best what is right for our area.”
Cllr Paul Kennedy, leader of the Conservative group on the borough council, will see his ward – Hatton, Stretton and Walton – disappear under the proposals.
He said: “I am very disappointed for the residents of Hatton, Stretton and Walton that from May 2016 they will no longer be represented by their own designated borough councillor and I, and they, are rightly concerned that there is not even recognition of the three parish names in the new ward patterns.
“It is very evident from the Commission’s final recommendations, and their lack of reference to Hatton, Stretton and Walton in sections 23, 24 and 25 of the report, that they have no answer to the valid submissions made to retain the ward as it is.”