Proposed boundary changes split Wilmslow in two

Initial proposals for sweeping changes to the Parliamentary constituency boundaries could see Wilmslow divided between two constituencies.

The Chancellor George Osborne's Tatton seat will disappear with many of the wards currently contained in the Tatton constituency incorporated in the proposed Northwich constituency.

The area of Wilmslow which is south of Moor Lane/Chapel Lane and west of Alderley Road will be part of the Northwich constituency, along with Alderley Edge and Knutsford, whilst the rest of Wilmslow will move into the Macclesfield constituency where David Rutley was elected as the MP in the 2010 general election.

The Boundary Commission for England is carrying out the review after Parliament decided to reduce the number constituencies in the UK from 533 to 502 and achieve a more even distribution of electors. Each constituency, with the exception of two on the Isle of Wight, must have an electorate that is no smaller than 72,810 and no larger than 80,473.

The North West region has been allocated 68 constituencies which represents a reduction of seven and, due to the requirement for significant changes, only seven out of the 75 existing constituencies would remain unchanged.

Initial proposals for Cheshire and the Wirral reduce the number of constituencies from 15 to 13 with one constituency straddling the Cheshire–Greater Manchester boundary which would include Poynton in a constituency that predominantly contains wards from the Borough of Stockport.

The Boundary Commission are consulting on their initial proposals for a 12-week period, from 13th September to 5th December.

They are also hosting five public hearings in the North West, the nearest of which will be from October 11th to 12th at the Britannia Hotel on Portland Street, Manchester.

Everyone wishing to contribute to the design of the new constituencies can read the initial proposals report and accompanying maps on the Boundary Commission for England website. You can respond via the website, or you can email [email protected].

Once the consultation has closed, the Commission will collate all the responses received, including transcripts of the public hearings, and final recommendations will be made to the Government by 1st October 2013.

Thanks to Marc Asquith for alerting me to the fact the initial proposals were made available this morning.

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Tatton Constituency