LOCAL people are being invited to have their say on a new political map for Redditch Borough Council.
A new pattern of wards is being developed for Redditch Borough Council after the Local Government Boundary Commission decided that the number of councillors in Redditch should be 27, down from its current level of 29.
The Commission wants to hear what residents and organisations think about their local area.
A 10-week consultation on the proposals will run until May 2, 2022.
The Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries.
It is reviewing Redditch to make sure councillors represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements help the council work effectively.
It also wants to be sure that its proposals reflect community ties and identities.
The Commission is interested in views on which communities should be part of the same ward.
What facilities do people share, such as parks, leisure centres or schools and shopping areas?
What issues do neighbouring communities face that they have in common, such as high numbers of visitors or heavy traffic?
Have there been new housing or commercial developments that have changed the focus of communities?
And are there roads, rivers, railways or other features that people believe form strong boundaries between neighbourhoods?
Should the wards stay the same but the councillors elected to represent it be reduced?
There will be a further round of consultation once the Commission has drawn up those proposals.
Launching the consultation Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We want people in Redditch to help us.
“We are starting to draw up new wards for Redditch. We want our proposals for new electoral arrangements to reflect communities.
“We also want them to be easy to understand and convenient for local people.”
The Commission has a dedicated section on its website where people can give their views: https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/33249
People can also give their views by e-mail at [email protected], and by post to: The Review Officer (Redditch), LGBCE, PO Box 133, Blyth, NE24 9FE.
Currently Redditch Borough Council consists of the following wards: Abbey (two councillors), Astwood Bank and Feckenham (two), Batchley and Brockhill (three), Central (two), Church Hill (three), Crabbs Cross (two), Greenlands (three), Headless Cross and Oakenshaw (three), Lodge Park (two), Matchborough (two), West (two), Winyates (three).
