Should parts of Chickerell come under Weymouth Town Council?
There's been a heated exchange of words over future boundaries between Chickerell and Weymouth
Chickerell councillors have said they will not be bullied by Weymouth into giving up any of their area.
A review has now been given more time to see if a mutual agreement can be reached over boundaries between the two.
Councillor Jean Dunseith was ticked off for her Churchillian-style ‘we will fight them’ speech at Thursday’s full council meeting.
Fellow ward councillor John Worth backed up her words saying Chickerell would oppose what has been described as “a land grab” by Weymouth town council.
It had argued that it would make more sense for parts of Chickerell to be re-designated to Weymouth.
Wyke Regis councillor Cllr Kate Wheller, a former Weymouth mayor, said she found Cllr Dunseith’s language ‘unhelpful’ and said if there had been more effort on Chickerell’s part to negotiate the issue might not have been delayed.
“Weymouth town council tried very hard to get into consultation with Chickerell town council over very many months. There was no negotiation, there was no mediation, there was nothing,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s helpful in any way for councillors to stand up and accuse others of being bullies, that doesn’t help because ulyimately that has to be discussed,” she said.
Under discussion will be whether parts of Chickerell should, in future, come under Weymouth town council. In the past Chickerell and surrounding areas have been part of the former West Dorset District Council area with Chickerell having its own town council.
Cllr Dunseith said that Chickerell had no idea at all what Weymouth was up to but said: “Now the cat’s out of the bag we will girding our loins a bit more.., and making sure that democracy is served and the people of Chickerell have their say.
“It makes no difference to us what our larger, bullying neighbours would like to happen to us. We will have our say and we will be listened to. We will go down fighting,” she said.
The problems have been caused by the ongoing Community Governance Review which looks at how best local people can be represented which, in some circumstances, can lead to changes in traditional boundaries.
Similar problems to Chickerell’s have also arisen in Winterbourne Farrington and the Vale of Allen where extra time is also being allowed to resolve difficulties.
The Community Governance Review is a legal process which looks at the most suitable ways of representing the people in the area identified in the review.
It is supposed to ensure that any proposals reflect the identities and interests of the community and is effective and convenient.
A Review can consider one or more of the following options:
· creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes;
· the naming of parishes and the style of new parishes and the creation of town councils;
· the electoral arrangements for parishes (for instance, the ordinary year of election; council size; the number of councillors to be elected to the council, and parish warding);
· grouping parishes under a common parish council or de-grouping parishes;
· other types of local arrangements, including parish meetings.