Save Newcastle
Boundary Commission Proposals For North Staffordshire
In an attempt to achieve the correct numbers of electors per MP the Boundary Commission is proposing new constituency boundaries that will cut across local communities in an unacceptable way.
Newcastle Issues
- The Borough of Newcastle under Lyme is to be split in two. The southern part of the borough is merged with Stone and the northern part included in a Tunstall based constituency.
- Included in the Tunstall constituency are rural parishes to the north and west of Newcastle.
- Some central wards, e.g Cross Heath and Wolstanton are to be included in the Tunstall based constituency.
- Other central wards, e.g. Holditch and Porthill are to be included in the Stone based constituency
- Newcastle under Lyme has returned an MP to parliament since 1354 (Two from 1354 to 1885)
- There will be a strong disincentive to vote in the rural area linked to Tunstall, where two different worlds are brought together.
The Burslem Issue
- Burslem, the mother town of the Potteries with a strong local identity is to be divided between Stoke Central and Tunstall/Kidsgrove.
The Moorlands
- Biddulph is included in a Leek based constituency, whereas Biddulph looks north/south rather than east to Leek. The only connection is a shared District Council. However most District Councils are now spread across two or more constituencies.
The Alernatives
- Alternatives exist that would retain the historic unity of Newcastle and avoid splitting Burslem
Online Petitions
To help Save Newcastle sign the two online petitions at
http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/save-newcastle/3744
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/19718
16th November 2011
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