On Tuesday 8th November 2022, the Boundary Commission for England published its Revised Proposals for consultation for the upcoming 2023 boundary changes. I am calling on you to make your objections heard to the Revised Proposals, which risk changing the constituencies of Rochford and Southend East, and Southend West beyond recognition.
The Revised Proposals suggest that Eastwood Park and St Laurence wards are transferred to Rochford and Southend East along with the remaining parts of Roche North and Rural ward. Southend West is proposed to be renamed Southend Central and Leigh and gain the city centre wards of Kursaal, Milton and Victoria.
I welcome the Boundary Commission’s decision to ensure that one Member of Parliament represents the city centre and all Roche North and Rural ward residents.
However, the Revised Proposals published by the Boundary Commission suggest significant changes to both constituencies in Southend, disrupting tens of thousands of constituents unnecessarily.
Shortly after the publication of the proposals, my friend and colleague, Anna Firth MP, and I made our objections clear to the Boundary Commission and suggested an alternative proposal which would reduce the disruption to our constituents.
Our proposal would see that all Southend wards remain in their current constituencies, except for St Luke’s ward, which would move to Southend West, and remove the need to change its historic name. While I would be sad to see St Luke’s ward leave the constituency of Rochford and Southend East, it seems a much more sensible solution to meet the aims of the Boundary Commission.
The Revised Proposals put forward by the Boundary Commission seemingly ignore the long-standing local ties that the city centre has to Rochford and Southend East, which it has been a part of since the 1950s.
In addition, it would make little sense for the residents of Eastwood Park and St Laurence wards, the most eastern parts of Southend, to be bundled in with the most western areas in a constituency called Rochford and Southend East. This move would be confusing and ignoring the close ties these areas have to the community of Leigh.
The Boundary Commission is currently holding its final consultation, and I call on you to make your objections heard by the Boundary Commission by Monday 5th December 2022. The quickest and easiest method to make your voice heard is through the consultation portal at www.bcereviews.org.uk.
If you wish to submit your objection in writing, you can use the details below:
- Postal address: Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BQ
- Email address: [email protected]
Please make your voice heard to the Boundary Commission to support our proposal to ensure that the upcoming boundary changes do not cause unnecessary disruption while respecting our strong local ties within our communities.
