Proposals to change the electoral boundaries of Malmesbury will 'rip the town in half' says councillors.

Malmesbury Town centre may no longer be part of the Malmesbury electoral division.

The Local Government Boundary Commission  is carrying out an electoral review of Wiltshire Council, and is recommending a boundary change that would see the centre of Malmesbury be part of the Sherston division.

Every electoral review aims to recommend division boundaries that mean each councillor represents the around the same number of voters.

However the bizarre recommendation would mean the Town Hall, the Cross Hayes car park, and the High Street would all fall outside the Malmesbury division.

How would the Malmesbury electoral division look if proposals are permitted?

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

The green line to the right, mostly following the A429, is the existing boundary with St Paul Malmesbury Without, currently in the Sherston Ward.

The orange line is the proposal that would cut through the heart of the town.

Within the orange-lined area is the proposed new Malmesbury North Parish Ward and outside of it is the proposed new Malmesbury South Parish Ward.

What does the report published by the commission say?

“The council (Wiltshire Council) recognised that the town of Malmesbury has now grown too large to sustain a single division which provides good electoral equality and that anticipated housing development will exacerbate this situation by 2024.

“The council proposed that this be addressed by including part of the Tetbury Hill area, including a site of a substantial proposed housing development, in the surrounding Sherston division.

“We propose that the High Street area of Malmesbury be added to Sherston division as we consider that the communities at Burton Hill and Milbourne are more likely to engage with this part of Malmesbury than Tetbury Hill or with any other community in Sherston division.”

How did Malmesbury Town Council react at their full town council meeting yesterday?

Malmesbury Town Council chair Cllr John Gundry acknowledged that Malmesbury would be too large, however he didn't agree with the proposal.

"What a clever idea, not. We must oppose to the draft"

Cllr Gundry said the proposal was deeply flawed and the ancient core which gives the town its identity would no longer be a part of Malmesbury any more.

Cllr Kim Power was concerned that it would make it more difficult for residents.

She noted how the changes would make it more challenging for residents to access the right person at the council to help them with their problems, to which members of the town council agreed with.

Cllr Gavin Grant noted what made the town what it is. "Malmesbury Abbey, the Market Cross, our High Street, all of that would no longer be part of Malmesbury, its simply preposterous."

"Right now its simple, asking the councillor for the Sherston division to deal with parking at the Cross Hayes for example, or to comment on the supermarket applications is just more confusing."

A proposal was put forward by Cllr Gundry.

"The proposal is to make our objections to the proposals to protect and preserve our community.

"To include back into the division residents of Tetbury Hill, and to press the case of the yet to be residents of Backbridge development to join the Sherston division."

The council reluctantly accepted that the development would have to be recommended to go in the division.

"It could change in 2024 but we have to look at what is infront of us now.

There is nothing to say in the next review that Backbridge can't be added back into the Malmesbury division."

Cllr Gundry and Cllr Grant agreed to make a shorter report and make an amendment to the draft ready for the next meeting in March.

Cllr Kim Power made an amendment and asked for Mayor Fran Vandelli to write a letter to residents on behalf of the council with a call to arms to take action and voice their concerns at the proposal.

Gavin Grant added: "The more voices the better!"

The council voted unanimously in favour of the proposal by Cllr Gundry.

Wiltshire councillor for Malmesbury Gavin Grant is opposed to the proposal

“I am very angry at this proposal. It rips the historic, commercial, sp‎ritual and administrative heart of Malmesbury out of our town and makes it a minor part of the proposed Sherston Ward.

Unfortunately once the new Backbridge estate is built, our town will have to many voters to fit into the Commission’s limits.

It makes far more sense for that newly built community that moves into the Sherston Ward not the historic heart of Malmesbury that has stood here for 1,500 years.

We all need to speak up now and tell the Local Government Boundary Commission that they have got this very wrong and that there is a clear and workable alternative.”

Sherston Parish councillor Martin Smith is also opposed to the proposal

"As a long standing Sherston resident it makes no sense to take the heart of Malmesbury out of the Malmesbury ward.

"The Wiltshire Council ward that carries the name of Sherston not only includes our village but also many of the parishes and communities around Malmesbury.

"Adding one more in the proposed Backbridge development, to that group in the Sherston ward is clearly the right thing to do."‎

How you can have your say

Voters in Wiltshire are being asked their views on the new plan to divide up the county for local election.

A 10-week public consultation on the recommendations made by the commission has began and will end on April 15.

The consultation is open to anyone who wants to have their say on new council divisions, division boundaries and division names across Wiltshire.

Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the commission, said: “We are publishing proposals for a new pattern of divisions across Wiltshire and we are keen to hear what local people think of the recommendations.

“Over the next 10 weeks, we are asking local people to tell us if they agree with the proposals or if not, how they can be improved.

“Our review aims to deliver electoral equality for local voters.

“This means that each councillor represents a similar number of people, so that everyone’s vote in council elections is worth roughly the same, regardless of where you live.

“We also want to ensure that our proposals reflect the interests and identities of local communities across Wiltshire and that the pattern of divisions can help the council deliver effective local government for local people.

“We will consider all the submissions we receive, whoever they are from and whether your evidence applies to the whole county or just a part of it.

The commission wants to hear as much evidence as possible to develop final recommendations for Wiltshire.

If you would like to make a submission to the commission, please email reviews@lgbce.org.uk by April 15.

Alternatively, you can write to:

The Review Officer (Wiltshire)

Local Government Boundary Commission for England

1st Floor, Windsor House

50 Victoria Street

London SW1H 0TL