7 November 2011

Don't divide Northfield -

The Boundary Commission is proposing that Weoley ward should be taken out of the Northfield parliamentary constituency.

Half of Northfield town centre is in Weoley ward. Places like the Northfield Town Centre Partnership shop, Northfield Town Football Club and Allens Cross are all in Weoley ward.

The Commission’s proposal means that Northfield will be divided right down the middle of the high street.

We say:

Keep Weoley ward part of Northfield constituency

I have submitted a written response to the Commission and gave evidence at a public hearing in Birmingham last week. I told them that Weoley ward should remain part of the Northfield constituency.

Help make the Boundary Commission listen - have your say too

If we are going to get the Commission to listen it is really important that that individuals, businesses and local community groups have their say too.

Click here to submit your views to the boundary review by 5th December

You don’t need to give a detailed or technical response. Just say why you think it’s important not to divide Northfield and why Weoley should stay part of the Northfield constituency.

More details -

1. What’s happening?

New rules on the number and sizes of parliamentary constituencies have recently been introduced. The organisation responsible for drawing the map of the new constituencies (for the next general election due in 2015) is called the Boundary Commission. They published their initial proposals for new constituencies in September.

In Northfield the Commission is recommending that Weoley ward should be taken out of the Northfield Parliamentary constituency and that it should be replaced by Bournville ward.

They have said that the constituency cannot stay as it is because it has below the minimum threshold of voters – we are currently just a few hundred under the required 72,810 voters (based on the electoral roll in December 2010).

In Birmingham the local authority wards are very big – around 18,000 voters in each. The Commission does not want to split up these wards within parliamentary constituencies. This makes sense but, because of their size, means it is very difficult to make small adjustments to constituencies. This has therefore led them to recommending that one whole ward (with a smaller average of voters) is taken out of the constituency and replaced by another whole ward (with a higher average of voters). In the case of Northfield constituency, taking out Weoley (with around 17,500) and bringing in Bournville (with around 19,500).

2. Why does this matter?

To be clear, Richard would like to retain the constituency as it currently is. He believes the rules under which the Commission is required to operate are flawed and that they will lead to further unnecessary disruption in years to come.

However, within the new rules, there does need to be a change. But Richard disagrees with their recommendation that Weoley ward should no longer be part of the Northfield parliamentary constituency.

This week he submitted his written response to the Boundary Commission. This sets out why he is opposed to their proposal – and, in particular why Weoley should stay part of the Northfield parliamentary constituency.

One of the main reasons Richard is opposed to losing Weoley is that many individuals, groups and businesses in the Weoley ward have a strong connection to the Northfield identity. Not least, the boundary between Weoley ward and Northfield ward runs straight down Northfield’s High Street. The upshot of this, if the Commission’s provisional recommendations were accepted, is that half of Northfield town centre would not be in Northfield constituency at all. We think that is ridiculous. We say: don’t divide Northfield.

3. What can we do?

The Boundary Commission are currently seeking views on their proposals. This consultation is open until 5 December 2011.

Richard has made a written submission to the Boundary Commission. He also gave evidence at a public hearing in Birmingham last week.

But if we are going to get the Commission to listen it is really important that that individuals, businesses and local community groups have their say too.

It would therefore be great if you, and any other local people you think might be interested, would be willing to submit your views.

Click here to submit your views to the boundary review by 5th December.

You don’t need to provide a detailed response or talk about any of the technicalities of the proposals. All you would need to do is say why you think the area has an important connection with Northfield.

You can find out about the Boundary Commission’s review online here. Details of the proposals for our area can be found in the West Midlands proposals summary online here.