The Localism Bill is now an Act of Parliament, and although I personally have many concerns over its lack of substance, I hope that its implementation will help us to achieve our goals.
At the full Council meeting at SODC on 17.11.2011 a motion was passed to put forward a proposal to the Boundary Commission to re-name our “Henley” constituency as the “South East Oxfordshire ” constituency. It was felt that this reflected more accurately the demographic reality of our rural constituency, rather than focussing on the name of just one town.
I have been informed that a worrying proposal has been put forward to the Parliamentary Boundary Commission, which would move the Garsington (including Cuddesdon), Berinsfield, Chalgrove and Sandford electoral wards away from the “Henley” constituency, where we naturally belong with our neighbouring Green Belt villages, into the “Oxford East” constituency, which is centred on Oxford City. This would mean that, were this to be passed we would share the East Oxford MP. Although this concerns the Parliamentary Boundary Commission, I have fears that it could easily lead, at a later date, to the further request, which might not then seem so unreasonable, to alter the Local Government boundaries as well, thereby enabling Oxford City Council to achieve its long term ambition of annexing the nearest villages including the Baldons for the further expansion of the city’s built-up area into the Oxford Green Belt. I would urge everyone who shares any similar concerns about this to voice their objections by e-mail to the Boundary Commission at
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or via their website.
We have only until December 5th to send in our objections to the Lib Dems proposal, and to make it clear to the Boundary Commission that we are very happy staying in the “Henley” contituency, so please don’t delay on this if you feel as I do about it.
May I take this opportunity to thank you all for your support over the past year and to assure you that I will continue to do my best to fight for our common good – and I would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas.
Elizabeth Gillespie, District Councillor
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