dear sirs,...alexandra park and beechen cliff school) from widcombe. the only organisation to...
TRANSCRIPT
Dear Sirs,
Response to the LGBCE’s second ward boundary draft proposal for Bear Flat
It is with great concern that the Bear Flat Association submits its response to the LGBCE’s
second ward boundary draft proposal.
The central tenet of our response to the first draft is that Bear Flat is a close community,
linked by Wellsway, and that we do not want the community split between wards. This
position was reached through a community survey and resident’s open meeting which
resulted in a clear wish for the Bear Flat community to remain united within a ward. This
was demonstrated with both quantitative data and a host of residents’ comments in support of
this view, all of which was presented in our response.
It is therefore of huge disappointment to us that, in the LGBCE’s second draft, our
community remains split. Whilst we understand that the task of redefining ward boundaries
is difficult, it would appear that Bear Flat is the only Bath community singled out for
dismemberment, and we would urge the LGBCE to reconsider its proposal for Bear Flat.
The Problem
The cause of our distress …..
Bear Flat is a distinct and close community centred on and linked by Wellsway (A367) as the
centre of shopping and amenities. The community comprises:
Poets Corner, and the Devonshires to the east,
Bloomfield Avenue and the Maples to the west,
Beechen Cliff Road, Hayes Place and Hayesfield Park to the north
St Lukes, Hatfield, Bloomfield Park, Egerton and Hensley to the south
The roads lying along Bear Flat – Wellsway and the lower part of Bloomfield Road
Bear Flat residents right across this area are represented by the Bear Flat Association, the
second largest residents’ association in Bath. For example, the BFA set up and make up the
active membership of the Friends of Bloomfield Green to the south west and Friends of
Alexandra Park to the north east of the community.
If the second draft for ward boundaries were to be implemented, Bear Flat would find itself
divided between a joint Widcombe / Lyncombe Ward to the east, Oldfield Ward to the west
and north, and Moorlands Ward to the south. This clearly fails two of the three statutory
considerations of the Commission, namely to reflect (Bear Flat’s) community identity /
interests and to provide for effective and convenient local government. It is also directly
opposed to the strong majority of residents who voted against a split – see the survey results
in our February 2018 submission - and completely ignores all of the recommendations made
by the BFA in this first submission.
Poets’ Corner and Bear Flat …..
In your letter of 15 May 2018 to the CEO of B&NES Council, you say that
Our draft recommendations were for single councillor Lyncombe and Widcombe
wards. We have been persuaded by the objections from the Bear Flat, Poets
Corner, Magdalen Avenue and Entry Hill areas and now propose a two-
councillor Widcombe and Lyncombe ward.
Our first submission did not in any way suggest a two-councillor Widcombe and Lyncombe
ward that splits the Bear Flat community. Your words, highlighted in bold, suggest that Bear
Flat and Poets Corner are distinct areas. This is just not true. This claim has been made,
totally spuriously, by the Widcombe Association
):
From local knowledge and having regard to our previous points about community
identity we suggest as follows. Lyncombe Ward (immediately west of Widcombe
Ward) probably has one of the least evident community identities… the eastern
side of Lyncombe Ward relates quite well with Widcombe Ward, with shared
interests in Alexandra Park and Beechen Cliff School…Our main suggestion,
therefore, reflecting the agreed reduction in the number of Councillors, is that
Lyncombe Ward should cease as an electoral locality ... As well as better
balancing representation numerically this change would provide a strong and
identifiable boundary along the heavily trafficked major A367 (Wellsway).
This is arrant nonsense and shows no local knowledge of Bear Flat. We comment below at
some length as we believe that this error-strewn submission has acquired currency as the
current recommendation and needs to be countered.
Whilst the current Lyncombe Ward as a whole may not have a clear ‘communityidentity’, Bear Flat – falling within north Lyncombe - most certainly does. As
indicated above, the community is active and vibrant, and is represented by one of
Bath’s largest residents’ associations, the BFA. To be fair, the Widcombe
Association does note in its second submission of February 2018, that
Bear Flat has an effective and active identity, which could be readily retained
whether or not this locality…were included within Widcombe in the interests of
electoral quality. WA would not oppose either but continue to engage
constructively with those areas.
However, the offer to ‘continue to engage constructively’ with Bear Flat is
disingenuous. We are not aware of any such previous engagement, only WA’s
attempts to take over parts of our community.
Poets Corner, Alexandra Park and Beechen Cliff School on the eastern side ofLyncombe Ward do not ‘relate quite well with Widcombe Ward’. The Bear Flat and
Widcombe communities have very different needs. The only association that engages
with Poets’ Corner and the rest of Bear Flat is the BFA, running community events,
engaging with B&NES Council on local issues and lobbying on behalf of the
community.
There are few, if any, ‘shared interests in Alexandra Park and Beechen Cliff School’.
o Regarding Alexandra Park, the Friends of Alexandra Park (closely associated
with the BFA) have never had any interest shown from the Widcombe
Association or Widcombe residents. Community events at the Park are
organised by the Friends and / or by the BFA and include an annual Picnic in
the Park, Carols at Christmas, flower planting and keeping the Park well
maintained. Widcombe has shown no interest in this. One or two Widcombe
respondents to the February 2018 submission who live close by, referred to
dog walking in the Park, hardly constituting ‘shared interests’.
o Regarding Beechen Cliff School, interests are definitely not shared. Staff,
pupils and former pupils who live in Bear Flat and the School are important to
us. A major concern in Bear Flat, both sides of Wellsway, is growing school
traffic as the school roll at Beeechen Cliff School increases and its catchment
area grows further outside Bath. We work with the School, the community and
the local council to try and solve such problems. In 2015, the BFA initiated
termly meetings, chaired by our Lyncombe councillor, between the school
Head and the BFA, Widcombe Association and Greenway Lane RA so that
residents’ issues could be aired informally, before they became problems.
Unlike the BFA, the concern of Widcombe and Greenway has principally been
to restrict school activity or ensure that it takes place as far away from their
residents as possible.
The notion that Wellsway‘would provide a strong and identifiable boundary’ showszero understanding of Bear Flat. As stressed in our first submission, Wellsway is a
local centre of shops, amenties and public transport that helps define the community.
It is the main artery of the present Lyncombe ward. Many of the current wards in Bath
are radial, as amenities have developed at the city end of radial roads, such as
Wellsway, as well as Prior Park Road and Widcombe Hill, the Widcombe Ward’s
arteries.. Using Wellsway as a ward boundary is totally inappropriate and suggests
desperation and some degree of cynicism by the Widcombe Association to preserve a
two-councillor Widcombe Ward. The very clear physical boundaries are the steep
roads and 400 footcliff that divides the north and east sides of Bear Flat (including
Alexandra Park and Beechen Cliff School) from Widcombe.
The only organisation to suggest the splitting of Bear Flat is the Widcombe Association ….
In all of the submissions, from political parties, organisations and residents, the only
respondent to suggest the split down Wellsway has been the Widcombe Association. The
main political parties all commented on the distinctiveness of the Bear Flat community. The
Liberal Democrats suggested that Alexandra Park and Beechen Cliff School should be in
Lyncombe, not Widcombe and the Conservatives recognised a strong community, at least in
LY3. We can only see this as an attempt to preserve Widcombe as a two-councillor ward.
The WA accepts that it must lose WO2. The new Riverside developments significantly
change elector numbers and, indeed, it is absurd that some streets west of Brougham Hayes,
which should be in an Oldfield Park or Westmoreland ward, are in the same ward as Prior
Park College and the top of Widcombe Hill, both 8-9 km away by road. By comparison, the
present Lyncombe ward has model ward boundaries. There are 1,140 electors in WO2.
Coincidentally, there are 1,191 in the Poets. The proposed Widcombe ward in the LGBCE’s
first draft has 2,352 electors of which half were Poets. Also the WA is inconsistent. It says
that ‘Lyncombe made no sense (where is Lyncombe ?)’ but it is perfectly OK in the second
draft once the Poets and its 1,191 are within Widcombe Ward.
The latest proposed boundary change satisfies the criteria only arithmetically. It fails
completely in terms of community and governance issues. It does not seem to have occurred
to the proposer of this split that the residents of Bear Flat might not want to be in Widcombe
ward. At least Councillor Gilchrist (Widcombe) reflects:
I'm sort of OK with the inclusion of Bear Flat/Poets Corner (i.e. east of
Wellsway), but can understand if they are aggrieved to be separated from the
neighbours west of Wellsway.
You will have noticed that the responses from Widcombe residents are very similar. The
Widcombe Association took upon itself the Commission’s role to decide ward boundaries for
other wards, not just their own area, and persuaded members to write approving their decision
[see the appendix for Widcombe Association correspondence]. We consulted Lower Oldfield
Park Residents Association in WO2, who did not feel any affinity with Widcombe and, as
small parts of about 32% of the present Widcombe ward, feel utterly ignored. Bear Flat’s
Poets’ Corner does not want to sacrifice itself to a Widcombe Association power grab and
end up as a neglected majority.
Interestingly, among the responses from Widcombe residents in February 2018 using the
Widcombe Association’s template for residents’ letters are several concluding that they agree
with their Association’s proposals, as directed in the template, but adding that they don’t
think Bear Flat should be part of a Widcombe ward. We can only agree.
Defining the Borders of the Bear Flat Community
Wellsway is not a logical boundary
We do not see Wellsway as a barrier but as a central amenity for the whole Bear Flat
community. Whereas in the LGBCE’s first draft proposal, Wellsway was used as the
boundary between Lyncombe and Widcombe, in the second draft, the boundary straddles
Wellsway, with the Bear pub and some shops move to W&L together with a small piece of
Bloomfield Green (some houses with a postal address in Bloomfield Road and with rear exits
in Wellsway will have boundary crossing their land). We assume that this is an attempt to
soften the view of Wellsway as a hard boundary. However, this misses the point that it still
divides the overall Bear Flat community.
North-East and East: The Bear Flat / Widcombe boundary
The real boundary is Beechen Cliff, which towers 400 feet above the city centre, and also
above Widcombe’s centre. The only major road from Widcombe to Bear Flat is
Wellsway/Wells Road (A367). It is two stops on the bus to get from the city centre to Bear
Flat along Wells Road (the northerly extension of Wellsway), but there are no public
transport links directly between Lyncombe and Widcombe wards. The present Lyncombe
ward has Wellsway as its spine and about seven different bus routes run along it, serving the
Bear Flat community well. Recalling our close association with Beechen Cliff School, local
pressure has led to Bear Flat now being a stop on the Odd Down Park-and-Ride bus route,
allowing school children to commute onto Bear Flat using public transport.
Historic woodcut of
Beechen Cliff from
Widcombe. Alexandra
Park now lies atop the
cliff, with Bear Flat out
of view on the other
side.
It is not clear on maps, but Holloway is not a vehicular thoroughfare between Bear Flat and Widcombe – it stops before St Mark’s Church and a separate road, St Mark’s Place, runs to
the bottom of Lyncombe Hill and the A36 main road.
The only other road route from the southern end of Bear Flat to Widcombe is up Lyncombe
Hill and on to Greenway Lane, an awkward back route that does not and could never support
the public transport links that the Commission considers as an important factor in drawing up
ward boundaries.
West: Bloomfield Avenue and the Maples
Bloomfield Avenue, Maple Grove and Maple Gardens are the Victorian, Edwardian and
modern housing to the west of Wellsway. The Commission’s second draft proposal places
this area in Oldfield Ward. The reason that the current boundary between LY3 and OF1 and
OF2 runs round this areas is that Maple Grove (at Linear Park, now the Two-Tunnels cycle
route) and Maple Gardens are cul-de-sacs. You can only access them by road from
Bloomfield Avenue, which is entered from Wellsway by the Bear Hotel or from Oldfield
Road. The area backs on to Bloomfield Green and the Bloomfield allotments, and there are
footpaths into these open, recreational spaces. It makes no sense to split this area from Bear
Flat. It has been part of LY3 for at least 40 years because it relates to and actively engages
with the rest of the Bear Flat area, most of which uses the Green and holds most leases for the
allotments. As an aside, the current Chair, Treasurer and Membership Secretary of the BFA
all live in this area.
North-West: Hayesfield Park
The area bounded by Hayesfield Park and Wellsway is currently in Lyncombe and has been
at least since 1975, but has been placed in Oldfield Ward in the 2nd
draft proposal. A move to
Oldfield Park would not be welcomed by residents, who look to Bear Flat for its amenities.
This was made clear in our February response and has been made very clear to us by the
Hayesfield Park residents since the publication of the 2nd
draft proposal.
South-West: Egerton, Hensley and Bloomfield Park
The Commission’s 2nd
draft proposal places this south-west area of Bear Flat in Moorlands
Ward. Again, this area identifies with Bear Flat and has easy access to Bloomfield Green and
allotments. The small Hensley and Egerton Residents’ Association has made clear to us its
desire to staywithin the Bear Flat community. We would argue strongly that the natural
boundary remains Chantry Mead Road running into Bloomfield Park. Setting the boundary
between Bear Flat and Moorlands along Englishcombe Lane allows both sides of Bloomfield
Park to remain in LY1 and as part of Bear Flat.
South: Hatfield Road and Greenway Lane
The southern boundary of Bear Flat can reasonably be seen as just north of Greenway Lane
(Greenway Lane has its own residents’ association and traditionally aligns itself to
Widcombe) and Hatfield Road (inclusive of its housing). In terms of establishing a
boundary, whilst we do have BFA members in Entry Hill and Lynbrook, we are not aware
that Entry Hill residents are unhappy in Lyncombe. Their respondents definitely did not want
to move to Combe Down, but only Widcombe or Combe Down was on offer after the first
draft.
Alexandra Park, Beechen Cliff School and Lyncombe Farm allotments
We also strongly believe that there is no justification for Alexandra Park, Beechen Cliff
School or the Lyncombe Farm Allotments remaining in a Widcombe ward. Alexandra Park is
a public park, but is maintained by a Bear Flat group - the Friends of Alexandra Park - and
which has had absolutely no input from Widcombe. The Liberal Democrats made the point
that vehicle access to all three sites is from Shakespeare Avenue or Kipling Avenue (in the
case of the School, whose postal address is Kipling Avenue). The allotments are leased and
managed by Bear Flat residents. All of the allotments in B&NES were granted Local Green
Space status in 2015, entirely as a result of the work of a Bear Flat resident who has acts as
Secretary to the local Allotment Association and wrote proposals for all 26. As noted above,
work on limiting vehicle parking in the Park will come to fruition this summer as a result of
work by BFA, the Friends of Alexandra Park and a Lyncombe councillor. Neither residents
nor councillors from Widcombe have shown the slightest interest in this vital work on a part
of their ward.
The Park sees growing visitor numbers as Bath tourism increases. It is important, not just for
the local community, that there is local involvement to work with B&NES Parks Department
to keep the Park in the best possible condition and to develop new amenities.
We would draw the boundary along the path at the top of Beechen Cliff, acknowledging that
there has been Widcombe input in landscaping the cliff side, but interest stops there. The
whole of the Park, School grounds and Lyncombe allotments would be in an enlarged Bear
Flat area. The remainder of the lower land leading up to the part from Widcombe and
Lyncombe would remain in the new Widcombe & Lyncombe ward.
Bordering areas
We referred to Entry Hill and the streets off it above. Although they are in LY1 at the
moment, we think it simpler to leave them in Lyncombe, even though we know some
residents are involved with the Bear Flat community. It is clear from the February responses
that they look towards the centre, either Bear Flat or Widcombe Parade, for amenities and do
not have any link with Combe Down.
Magdalen and Park Avenues, off Holloway, have residents who are involved with both Bear
Flat and Widcombe communities. They are free to join both associations and we think it is
better that they stay in Widcombe, since Bear Flat can satisfy electoral quality requirements.
Bear Flat Community and Governance
“ The third factor the Commission must consider, by law, in making recommendations
for the new electoral arrangements is the need to secure effective and convenient local
government” – from the LGBCE guidance Making your case.
Of course, it is easier if how a community defines itself is broadly within ward boundaries,
but what does this mean in practice ?
The BFA has worked closely with the local councillor, B&NES Transport Department and
the community to achieve residents parking. The final consultation will be complete in a
matter of days. The area involved is based on the Department’s subdivisions of Bath, and is
remarkable close to our own area – see the map below. BFA funded the survey, under
B&NES instruction.
A consultation on clean air is currently taking place. Bath is one of 29 towns and cities that
have been given until 2021 to propose radical action. BFA has managed to get itself on the
same footing as the central areas as pollution on Wellsway is as bad as in many central areas.
This is an issue which it shares with the Victorian and Edwardian suburban areas such as
Oldfield Park, not with more central areas such as Widcombe.
You rightly contrast unparished Bath with the parished areas of B&NES. The BFA gives
space at its monthly Community Market for councillors to meet residents in a more relaxed
atmosphere and councillors have welcomed our input and the opportunity to bounce ideas off
us. Councillors are bound to take up every issue raised by resident. Sometimes it’s difficult to
see the wood for the trees, and we can often suggest ways in which the community can help
itself. This can save valuable resources and solutions can be effected more quickly. We have
been told by all the councillors we work with that we make their roles easier, thus improving
local government in the area. This is one more practical way in which the community is
helping itself, and one more reason why threatening the community’s relationship with a
single councillor makes absolutely no sense.
The proposed new Residents’ Parking Zone for Bear Flat
Our Proposed Solution
Whilst we are deeply frustrated by the prospect of a split community and strongly disagree
with the the mis-information, that, in our view, has led to this point, we are not arguing
against Bear Flat becoming one part of a Widcombe/Lyncombe or Widcombe/Bear Flat
double ward (or indeed any other ward), provided that the Bear Flat community remains
intact.
In our February submission, we offered several alternatives that keep Bear Flat intact. We did
not offer a Lyncombe/Widcombe ward because the Widcombe Association had pre-empted
discussion by pitching for the Poets area, as without it they wouldn’t have had enough
electors to make up a single ward. Now that the Commission has proposed a different
Lyncombe / Widcombe double ward that problem is partially removed as Widcombe has
greater flexibility to make up its electoral numbers without laying claim to Poets’ Corner.
We want to keep the north part of Lyncombe ward as a distinct electoral unit, for the reasons
discussed above. This could be in either a new Bear Flat single ward or as part of a double
ward with our neighbours, Oldfield Park. Either way, it would involve reverting to 29 wards.
The average ward size reverts from 2,269 electors to 2,191 (2017) and 2,357 to 2,275 (2023).
We will use 2017 figures to show boundaries.
A Bear Flat Single Councillor Ward
The changes to the current proposal would be as follows.
Bear Flat Widcombe &
Lyncombe
Oldfield Park Moorlands
Electors
proposed
0 4942 2279 2569
Oldfield Rd 15 -15
Wellsway 200 -100 -100
Hayes Place 22 -22
Hayesfield Park 42 -42
Poets area inc
Bruton Ave,
Beechen Cliff
Rd,
1191 -1191
Bloomfield Ave
Maple Gr, Gdns
348 -348
Hensley Rd,
Gdns, Egerton
141 -141
Bloomfield Pk,
Grove
183 -183
Hatfield, St
Luke’s
48 -16 -16 -16
Bloomfield Rd 118 -34 -34 -50
New electorate 2308 3579 1724 2179
This puts Bear Flat 5% over the 2017 average and 1% over the 2023 average (the average
increase in electors from 2017 to 2023 is negligible at only 0.5% excluding the three wards
with substantial new building).
The three neighbouring wards are obviously affected by this.
Widcombe & Lyncombe (W&L) would be short of the average ward figure of 4,381 for
2017. The Commission’s second draft, creating a double ward, precludes any thought of
combining wards. They would have to lose electors to reduce to around 2,700 to stay within a
double ward with us. In view of all that has been written about Widcombe’s historic
entitlements, this is unlikely to be a fruitful line of enquiry.
However, their neighbouring wards, Bathwick and Combe Down, are respectively 6% and
7% over the average (based on 28 wards) in 2023. That is 698 electors, and rather more if
there are 29 wards. There is therefore ample scope to restore W&L to close to 4,868 electors
in 2023 by switching electors from Bathwick and Combe Down. Having criticised the
Widcombe Association for a smash-and-grab raid on Lyncombe ward to bolster their
electoral numbers, we don’t want to fall into the same trap. Suffice to say that the lowest
allowable electorate (ie 10% less than average) in a double ward in 2023 is only 4,096.
Moorlands would remain a little below the average electorate, even after Bloomfield Road,
Bloomfield Place, Bloomfield Grove, Hensley Road and Gardens, and Egerton Road have
moved back into the north Lyncombe area where they belong, as we explain below.
The new Oldfield Park ward would be about 250 electors short of the minimum for a ward.
However, the other part of the three-councillor ward originally proposed, Westmoreland,
increases from 3,583 electors in 2017 to 4,727 in 2023. There is scope for some electors to
move from Westmoreland to Oldfield Park to achieve wards within limits by 2023, especially
as the proposed boundary between Oldfield Park and Westmoreland is not clear cut.
This would mean having three single wards – Bear Flat, Moorlands and Oldfield Park, with
13 double wards in the rest of Bath. Bear Flat and Moorlands satisfy the conditions for
electoral equality and Oldfield Park would by 2023, on the basis of electors moving from
Westmoreland, which will have gained 1,144 by 2023.
We have been in touch with residents associations in Oldfield Park. The largest, the Lower
Oldfield Park RA, is delighted with the scrapping of the proposed triple ward and no longer
being an odd westerly outpost of Widcombe ward. Both BFA and LOPRA would, ideally,
like to be part of a double ward.
We know Oldfield residents use Bear Flat amenities. Oldfield Park has been a major area for
Bath University students to live and regular buses take them up to their campus from Oldfield
Park. The Bear Flat Co-op supermarket, and other Bear Flat shops, give student discounts.
Although broadly happy with the new boundaries, LOPRA are surprised that their ward
crosses the river and is a little removed from Moorland Road, which is really the centre of the
Oldfield community.
We do not see Moorlands as a natural partner, but Oldfield Park would consider being a
partner with them. Most people seem to prefer to be in a double ward, so Bear Flat plus
Oldfield Park or Oldfield Park plus Moorlands would cut Bath to only one single out of 29.
Possible constituency names
Lyncombe is only really an accurate name in a ward that includes Lyncombe Hill, Lyncombe
Vale and roads off. We have lived with Lyncombe for many years, though everyone knows
us as Bear Flat. If we become a single councillor ward, it would be entirely logical to call it
‘Bear Flat Ward’. Alternatively, ‘Bloomfield Ward’ would also be logical. We note that the
Liberal Democrats proposed a Bloomfield double ward, from Moorlands through Bloomfield
to include Alexandra Park and Beechen Cliff School.
If Bear Flat were to form part of an Oldfield Park double ward, a number of those who
criticised the triple-ward Oldfield Park in the February responses suggested that a ‘West and
East Oldfield Park’ might be a good idea. Since the proposed single ward Oldfield Park does
not reach the local centre, Moorland Road, perhaps introducing East might be more accurate.
This does not seem to be a problem for the local Residents Associations consulted.
Electoral quality
The following table summarises the electoral viability of our proposednew ward options.
Proposed
new wards
Bear Flat Bear Flat/
Oldfield Park
Notes
After adjustment to
create Bear Flat 2308 4032 Taken from table
above after restoring
LY3 and LY1 (part)
Move 250 from
Westmoreland 4282 Westmoreland has
variations of -798 for
2017 but 176 for
2023 (based on 29
councillors)
Average ward (with
29) in 2017
2191 4381
Average ward (with
29) in 2023
2275 4551
Minimum ward
(-10%) 2017
1972 3943
Minimum ward
(-10%) 2023
2047 4096
Summary
In summary, we reject the ill-informed proposal, made in the first draft, to split the close and
long-established Bear Flat community to suit the machinations of the Widcombe Association.
We deplore that fact that the split was worsened in the second draft.
We would like the number of Bath wards to revert to 29 to allow Bear Flat to be a single
ward or part of a double ward with Oldfield Park. A double ward is more attractive in many
ways, though the proposed Oldfield Park ward reaches to the other side of the Avon. There is
real contact between Oldfield Park and Bear Flat and you can easily move between the two
areas by car and public transport. This also offers Bath 14 double wards, with only
Moorlands as a single ward.
We would prefer a single Bear Flat ward or, if the electoral maths proves too difficult, an
Oldfield Park / Moorlands double ward. Oldfield Park would still need to add electors from
Westmoreland for the double ward to have an acceptable negative variance by 2023.
Our overwhelming concern, and that of the residents, is for the north part of Lyncombe
to remain as a significant part of a ward. 6,578 votes were cast in the 2015 local elections
to elect two councillors, 20% more than most other double wards. Only the Westmoreland
ward, with a charismatic local independent councillor was anywhere near. Most wards were
well over 1,000 votes behind. The BFA hustings for the local election packed the local
church hall with standing room only. This is good, strong community that cares about
politics and community affairs. We urge you not to carve it up.
Yours faithfully
G E Somerset
Chair, Bear Flat Association
11th
June 2018
APPENDIX:
WIDCOMBE ASSOCIATION PRO-FORMA LETTER
Ward Boundary Consultation
From [..........]
Local Government Boundary Commission
ref: BANES ........
Dear Sirs
I am writing as a resident of Bath & North East Somerset living in [ .......] .
I would like to comment on the draft proposals for new wards in the City
of Bath.
I feel that the proposed changes for the Widcombe ward area are not
satisfactory and do not meet the stated aims of the LGBC, other than in
respect of voter equality. The draft proposals result in the strong, vibrant
and connected community of Widcombe being split across five wards for
local council representation. This would greatly complicate
communications and community engagement on local issues, eroding the
efficient working of our local government.
In the [ ...... ] area we are very much part of Widcombe yet these
proposals move us to another, disconnected, ward. We have strong social,
transport and amenity links to Widcombe and this is our community. We
believe that we should be included in an extended Widcombe & Lyncombe
ward. We believe wards can be designed to still achieve the equality of
voters objective whilst better reflecting our local community.
I believe the ward proposals should be reconsidered to better reflect our
strong local community and achieve consistency of local representation
with predominately two councillor wards ( for example by combining
Widcombe & Lyncombe).
I am aware that the Widcombe Association has proposed an alternative
way to achieve the stated aims for ward design, including electoral
equality, and commend these proposals to you.
Yours faithfully
[.........]