Parliamentary boundaries review
A new Hamble Valley constituency could be created
A final public consultation on a proposed new map of parliamentary constituencies across England could move the existing Eastleigh constituency to the west and create a new one, incorporating the Borough’s southern parishes and straddling the River Hamble.
The review of English constituencies by the independent Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is taking place to rebalance the number of electors represented by each Member of Parliament (MP). Due to population changes since the last boundary review, constituency sizes currently vary widely. The changes proposed by the Commission will make sure each constituency has between 69,724 and 77,062 electors, so that each MP represents roughly the same number of electors.
A new south Hampshire constituency would be called Hamble Valley County Constituency and would incorporate the current Eastleigh Borough Council wards of Botley, Bursledon & Hound North, Hamble & Netley, Hedge End North and Hedge End South, as well as six wards covered by Fareham Borough Council on the opposite side of the River Hamble, and one from Winchester City Council.
The Eastleigh Borough parliamentary constituency would consist of the remaining Borough Council wards, together with Valley Park, currently in the Romsey & Southampton North Constituency.
The BCE’s first draft of the proposals were published last year and were the subject of two public consultations – and the Commission say they received an excellent response from the public with ideas of how to improve them, resulting in the revised proposals that are the subject of the final consultation starting this week. The number of parliamentary constituencies in England would increase to from 533 to 543 under the proposal.
This is the last chance for residents have a say on any aspect of the review - from where the proposed constituency boundaries are, to the BCE’s suggestions for the new constituency name.
Comments can be sent in via www.bcereviews.org.uk , or by email or letter, but must be submitted by 5 December 2022.
The final formal report and recommendations will be submitted to Parliament by July 2023 and the new constituencies will take effect at the next General Election thereafter.
Graphic Image courtesy of Boundary Commission for England