HAVING Bridgwater and Hinkley Point C in different parliamentary constituencies would be “a bit mad”, district councillors have argued.
The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is currently consulting on proposals to redraw the Westminster constituency map ahead of the next UK general election, which is scheduled for May 2024.
Sedgemoor District Council has criticised some details of the new seats, which would see Bridgwater separated from the Hinkley Point complex despite significant road and investment links between the two areas.
Councillors have also suggested the new proposed Bridgwater seat be renamed to take account of population growth further up the coast.
The Sedgemoor district currently straddles two parliamentary constituencies – Bridgwater and West Somerset (represented by Ian Liddell-Grainger MP since 2010) and Wells (held by James Heappey MP since 2015).
With a population of 85,448, Bridgwater and West Somerset is currently one of the more populous constituencies in Britain, as well as covering one of the largest geographical areas.
Under the BCE proposals, Bridgwater will be separated from its current West Somerset neighbours, and will join up with Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge and other coastal settlements from the current Wells seat – giving it a projected population of 71,418.
The new boundary essentially follows the western boundaries of the Sedgemoor district – with eastern settlements like Axbridge and Cheddar moving into the neighbouring Wells and Mendips seat.
The remaining part of the current Bridgwater and West Somerset seat – including Hinkley Point – will become part of the new Tiverton and Minehead seat, stradding the border into Devon.
The proposals were discussed by the council’s licensing and general purposes committee when it convened in Bridgwater on Wednesday afternoon (July 14) – with the Hinkley Point issue proving to be a source of disagreement.
Councillor Polly Costello (Conservative, Wedmore and Mark) – who chaired the meeting – said: “A good chunk of the Hinkley area should still be kept within the Bridgwater confines and stay as it is, rather than go into Devon.
“With its links to Bridgwater, I think it’s a bit mad that that’s being taken out.”
However, Councillor Kathy Pearce (Labour, Bridgwater Westover) argued that the upcoming unitary decision would ensure Bridgwater residents would still get a say on Hinkley Point matters.
She said: “In terms of councils, it will still fall within the county of Somerset, just not within the constituency. There would still be the potential to have influence on matters relating to Hinkley Point.
“To be honest, I welcome this development because it’s always seemed to me that for us to share a constituency with the far reaches of Exmoor – I was never convinced there was a natural synergy to that.
“With the proposals, there do seem to be to be closer links between Burnham and Bridgwater, and those centres of population.”
Several councillors suggested the new Bridgwater seat should be renamed Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea, to take account of planned housing growth at the northern end of the district.
Meanwhile Councillor Charlie Riches (Liberal Democrat, Cheddar and Shipham) questioned the logic behind the planned Wells and Mendip seat.
The proposed new seat will include Axbridge, Cheddar, Shepton Mallet and Wells from the current seat, but will lose Glastonbury and Street and instead incorporate the eastern end of the current Weston-super-Mare seat, held by John Penrose MP since 2005.
The resulting seat will straddle three current local authority areas – North Somerset, Sedgemoor and Mendip – with an expected population of 69,843.
Mr Riches said: “The area that will be incorporated does fit quite well with Cheddar, in that this will be very much a peri-urban area to Bristol and Weston, and has large growth centres of Yatton, Congresbury, Winscombe and Churchill – they’re all being aggressively developed.
“I just question how that sits with the rest of the constituency – you’re going to have a very peri-urban north and a very large hinterland of rural and quite dispersed population.”
The council will put together a formal response based upon the committee’s comments, which will be submitted to the BCE before the consultation deadline of August 2.
To have your say on the proposals, visit www.bcereviews.org.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here