Councillor Alistair Willoughby, deputy executive member for housing and environmental health on North Herts Council, has criticised proposed boundary changes to electoral wards in Baldock.

The Local Government Boundary Commission recently proposed a new pattern of electoral wards in North Herts, and a public consultation is currently ongoing.

Under the proposals, a ward named Ashwell & Weston would include new developments in Baldock North, Clothall Common, and to the south of the current Baldock Town ward. It would also include the villages of Bygrave and Clothall.

This contrasts with the council's proposed pattern of wards, which would have expanded the existing Baldock East ward to include the new developments, and granted an additional councillor to that ward.

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Responding to the commission's proposals, Cllr Willoughby said that the new developments will "be urban in nature, with different needs from local government to the residents in rural north Hertfordshire".

He described the proposals as "changing the nature of the traditionally rural wards" and as flying "in the fact of another principle of good boundary planning: do not divide communities. In practice, the residents of this new development will very much be a part of Baldock, but their representation will be cut off".

Cllr Willoughby continued: "As a lifelong resident of Baldock, I know that my fellow residents will support me in saying that our community is our strongest asset.

"This proposal would split the new developments from the rest of the town and conflate their interests with the very different priorities of the rural villages.

"The boundary review isn’t just about numbers and councillors, it is about making sure that our town and neighbouring villages and hamlets remain their own cohesive communities and are represented in a way that reflects the needs of residents."

"The council’s proposal has the support of the Labour/Liberal Democrat administration, Conservative councillors, several submissions from across the political spectrum, and residents of the area.

"This demonstrates the fundamental shared understanding that the individuality of these communities should be respected, not separated."

Other councillors also criticised the proposals. Cllr Steve Jarvis, representing Weston & Sandon ward, said: "I am very disappointed by the Boundary Commission's proposals which will not produce the best representation for people in the villages, or those who will live in the new developments around Baldock.

"People living in those developments will see themselves as living in the town, whilst the issues and concerns in the villages are often very different.

"North Herts Council suggested a solution to this problem, with separate representation for Baldock and the villages which it is clear can be made to work."

Cllr Tom Tyson, representing Arbury Ward, said: "Unfortunately, the commission has ignored its own advice to respect natural community boundaries when revising the district's wards.

"North Herts Council came up with a sensible and feasible proposal for accommodating the Baldock extensions and neighbouring villages in separate wards that would recognise the different identities of those communities and be well placed to meet their needs.

"It's a shame that the commission has so clearly misinterpreted the situation in this part of North Herts.”

Cllr Willoughby is asking residents of Baldock, Arbury and Weston & Sandon wards to submit their views to the boundary commission's public consultation, which closes on January 9, 2023.