Town Split Gives Us Two M.P.’s!
On 16th October, the Boundaries Commission published their revised report on constituency reorganisation and I’m afraid I have to report we have failed to influence them, and Aycliffe is recommended to be split.
If you read page 30 of the report (at http://bit.ly/SNaAReport) you will see that I got half-a-page considering my case, but it was rejected.
Consequently, as we feared, most of Aycliffe, west of Westmorland Way/Burnhill Way will be in Bishop Auckland constituency; and the rest of Aycliffe will be in ‘Stockton North and Aycliffe’ constituency. You can see the resultant map at http://bit.ly/SNaAMap
People will be working on the figures to see what it will mean for the political vote. In terms of numbers, Aycliffe will constitute about a fifth of the voters in the new Stockton North and Aycliffe constituency. The 4,000 Aycliffe people in Bishop Auckland constituency will constitute about a twentieth of the electorate.
It is arguable that this will be good for Aycliffe – we will have two MPs representing us.
Remember that the Lib-Dems have reasserted that they will vote against the Boundaries Commission proposals (as a tit-for-tat for the failure of their Lords proposals) so it is more-than-likely that these proposals will never become law.
I find it disappointing that the new County Council ward divisions, which contradict the Commissioners’ argu-ments, will be in place (May 2013) BEFORE parliament considers the new constituency boundaries . . . and yet the Commissioners have still seen fit to go with the old ward boundary and split Aycliffe between two constituencies.
It reinforces my view that the reorganisation is not about the needs of communities, but simply reducing us to numbers.
They are inviting comment and you can reply online at http://bit.ly/SNaAReply or email them at: northeast@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk
Counc. John D Clare
Great Aycliffe Town Council
