Boundary changes could split Swaffham on Breckland Council
Councillors in Swaffham have expressed their confusion over the recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission
Concerns have been raised over planned boundary changes that would split a Norfolk town in two.
Councillors in Swaffham have expressed their confusion over the recommendations of the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC), which is undertaking a review of political arrangements in the area.
The organisation will redraw the boundaries of wards represented on Breckland Council with the aim of helping to improve representation and encouraging the authority to work more effectively.
However, its initial recommendations have already resulted in backlash over the proposals to divide the town of Swaffham and link the surrounding parishes to their nearest halves.
The LGBC is an independent body that aims to scrutinise and improve electoral arrangements for local authorities across the country.
It launched its review of Breckland Council last year after it was found that more than a third of wards in the district were underrepresented, due to a fast-growing population.
The district is home to more than 141,000 people, which is an increase of 8.5pc compared to 2011, meaning that there is a disparity between the number of councillors and people living in certain areas.
Therefore, the LGBC hopes to boost Breckland’s numbers of councillors from 49 to 51 to keep pace with population growth and carry out effective decision-making.
However, its other recommendations have proven more controversial.
The LGBC has set out plans for the council to create new Swaffham North and Swaffham South wards – thereby dividing the town, which is currently governed within one ward.
The Swaffham North ward will include the surrounding parishes of Narford, Narborough and South Acre, and Swaffham South will include Beachamwell, Cockley Cley, North Pickenham and South Pickenham.
John Zielinski, a member of Swaffham Town Council, said: “The proposal to split our town in two concerns me.
“I’m also not entirely sure what the relationship is between those surrounding villages and parishes and the town of Swaffham itself.”
The LGBC is currently carrying out a public consultation into its recommendations, which could come into force within the next few years.