Boundary Commission review of Parliamentary Boundaries
30th of November, 2022
The Boundary Commission for England has been reviewing PARLIAMENTARY Boundary changes in support of equal and fair sized parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom in the interests of parliamentary democracy and has recently put revised proposals out for public consultation.
The consultation period is from 8th November to 5th December and anyone can comment.
For clarity the proposals are for Parliamentary boundary changes NOT Local Government boundary changes.
The following link will take you to the BCE site where you can see proposals and comment.
The original proposal kept Sabden within the Ribble Valley constituency, whilst it was proposed for neighbouring wards to join Hyndburn. Revised proposals have now been published and Sabden, its neighbouring Wards, Clitheroe and a substantial area of the existing constituency will be removed to a new constituency named Clitheroe & Pendle. The parish council met earlier in the week to discuss and strongly objects to the proposal - its response as follows :
Sabden parish council has considered the revised proposals made by the BCE and in particular the changes to Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency. The parish council understands and supports the concept of equal and fair sized parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom as crucial to parliamentary democracy.
Sabden parish council strongly objects to the proposal which removes Sabden from the current Ribble Valley constituency and is concerned for future implications -by removing Sabden from the Ribble Valley Parliamentary Constituency which is currently contiguous with Ribble Valley Borough Council this is calling into question the long-term viability of the Borough Council.
The parish is entirely within the area of outstanding natural beauty and part of the Pendle Hill landscape partnership led by the Forest of Bowland AONB. Sabden is a rural area which is very well aligned to the local and wider area of the current Ribble Valley constituency. The main market town of Clitheroe is the base for local government services, voluntary & support services and public transport links. Our 2 primary schools are feeder schools to faith and secondary education in Clitheroe and Whalley (R.C)and we have strong local ties with neighbouring villages and the wider area, Sabden is covered by a rural policing team which is aware of the issues of our rural community.
The GP clinics are largely in Sabden, Whalley or Clitheroe with many hospital appointments at the local Clitheroe Community Hospital to which we have good public transport links .
Sabden parish council would therefore recommend the BCE reconsiders the revision and reverts to its original proposal whereby Sabden remains within the Ribble Valley constituency, if indeed any changes are required, as the Ribble Valley constituency, as it currently is, meets the strict criteria on electoral numbers and is within the parameters.