Fighting The New Boundry Commission's Proposals

Help Us Fight The Boundary Commission's Proposals

The Conservatives have given the Boundary Commission the task of reducing the number of Westminster Parliamentary constituencies from 650 down to 600. They have made this move on the basis that it will save money and make all constituencies a similar size in terms of the electorate. However the Boundary Commissions proposals have shown little regard for historic boundaries, local identity and democratic accountability.
Many Brentwood residents have been shocked and alarmed to see the Boundary Commission's proposals for the new Brentwood & Ongar constituency which will involve some substantial changes:

• The changes that directly affect Brentwood involve the Brentwood Borough wards of Warley along with Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon being moved into the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Brentwood Liberal Democrats are opposed to these specific changes for a number of reasons.

Warley has been a part of Brentwood since year dot and has Brentwood Station and Fords HQ as two of it's best known landmarks. Warley is an integral part of our town and our Borough and has nothing in common with places like Vange and East Tilbury that are part of the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.
Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon are also important to our local community and have strong historic links with Brentwood built up over hundreds of years. Brentwood Lib Dems believe we all owe it to the residents in both these wards to stand shoulder to shoulder with them and fight these proposals.
To take these two wards out of the Brentwood & Ongar Constiuency and give us four new wards which include places like Broomfield and the Walthams and Writtle just doesn't make sense. Westminster already seems very remote to many people and we can only see these proposals making things a whole lot worse. Reducing the number of MP's from 650 down to 600 may save money but is it a price worth paying if we lose our local identity and accountability? Brentwood Lib Dems say no and that is why we are fighting these proposals.
The Boundary Commission's proposals have now gone out to public consultation.

What Can Local Resident's Do?

• Please sign our petition to keep Warley in the Brentwood & Ongar Constituency
• Please sign our petition to keep Herongate, Ingrave and West Horndon in the Brentwood & Ongar Constituency
• Please go onto the Boundary Commission's interactive consultation website and you can attend the public hearing at the Chelmsford Civic Centre on Monday 31st October - Tuesday 1st November. The consultation period runs from 13th September to 5th December 2016