Electoral Review of Rushcliffe Borough Council
About this document
This document has been prepared by West Bridgford Branch Labour Party
on behalf of the Rushcliffe Borough Council Labour Group and Rushcliffe
Constituency Labour Party and comments on the draft recommendations on
the proposed electoral arrangements for Rushcliffe Borough Council set out
in a draft document dated September 2012.The comments relate to the West
Bridgford area of Rushcliffe, in particular the Trent Bridge and Abbey
Wards.
Our comments are based on the following:  The Commission’s draft recommendation for Rushciffe of a council size
of 44
 The forecast electorate in 2018 for the Rushcliffe Borough Council area
of 93,496 electors
 The average electorate per councillor of 2125.
Summary
We are encouraged by the proposals in general for West Bridgford; we do
however feel they could be strengthened and improved with the
modifications set out in our submission.
In general the recommendations broadly reflect community interests,
identities and affiliations in the area, however in the case of the Trent Bridge
and Abbey Wards, we feel these could be improved by making some minor
changes to the recommended boundaries. The changes would also provide
for stronger, clearer more logical and easily identifiable boundaries while
maintaining electoral equality. None of our proposed changes would create
wards with variances greater than + or - 10% by 2018.
Our Revisions to the Commission’s Proposal for the Trent Bridge Ward
Our modified proposal for Trent Bridge broadly follows the Commission’s
plan for the ward but retains an area of housing in the north west part of the
ward transferred to the Lutterall Ward under the Commissions proposal. In
addition it excludes an area of housing in the Abbey Ward.
Analysis and rationale
To be read with reference to our original submission for the Trent Bridge
Ward
Our experience and the local road and pedestrian route layout tells us there is
little connection between the Lutterall Ward and the western part of the
Trent Bridge Ward: this area would include the northern end of the
Loughborough and Melton Roads, Charnwood Grove, Victoria Road,
Chantrey and Carlyle Road, Elm Tree Avenue and Chestnut Grove.If the
Commission’s proposal is adopted then pedestrians and vehicles from the
area will have to leave their neighbourhood and travel some considerable
distance south along the Loughborough Road to access the main part of the
proposed ward at Rugby Road. Historically this relative isolation from the
Lutterall ward has resulted in very few community connections, interests or
affiliations being built with the area.
In reality communities identify and make themselves by the choices and
decisions people make. Choices like:  where they choose to work
 where they choose to shop or be entertained
 where they travel to too access services like libraries, health
facilities,play groups, nurseries and other community facilities
 where they enjoy their leisure and relaxation time- including playing and
watching sport and visiting coffee shops and bars etc , additionally
 where they feel comfortable and safe.
Based on the community identity criteria then the neighbourhood clearly
identifies with the Trent Bridge Ward where all these facilities are present.
We recognise that major roads clearly mark out identifiable boundaries,
particularly, when drawn on a map in bold colours. However, in this case we
conclude that the community criteria argument far outweighs the identifiable
boundary criteria.
Our preferred option would be that the whole area under consideration (see
above) for transfer should remain in the Trent Bridge Ward. However, given
the importance and weight that the Commission seems to give to major
roads as identifiable boundaries then our alternative proposal is a boundary
running along the centre of Loughborough Road.A revised boundary using
Loughborough Road as a boundary is outlined below.
The Boundaries Of A Revised Trent Bridge Ward
The proposed revised boundary retains the existing eastern boundary
running south from the Lady Bay Bridge river crossing along the line of the
disused railway to Bridgford Park. It would continue and follow the
perimeter of the park joining Mabel Grove at its junction with Albert
Road.The boundary would then run behind the properties (north) on Mabel
Grove to Radcliffe Road.The boundary line would then turn east and follow
the natural boundary of the canal (and Radclffe Road-the A6011) to its
junction with Abbey Road .At Abbey Road the boundary would turn south
and travel along the centre of Abbey Road to its junction with Davis Road
.At this point it would turn west along the middle of Davies Road to its
junction with Gordon Road/Rectory Road/Central Avenue at Tudor Square.
The boundary would then turn south along the centre of Gordon Road to
Gordon Road’s junction with Ethel Road.The boundary would then travel
for a short distance west behind the properties on Ethel Road .It would then
turn south along the centre of Exchange Road to its junction with Manvers
Road .The line would then continue west to the rear (south) of the properties
on Manver’s Road to its junction with Melton Road .The boundary would
then turn north running along the centre of Melton Road to its junction with
North Road where it would turn west running along the back of the
properties between North and Carlyle Road. At its junction with
Loughborough Road the boundary would turn north and continue along the
centre of Loughborough Road to Welbeck Road.At Welbeck the boundary
would join the natural boundary of the river following the line of the river to
the Lady Bay Bridge.
Summary
Our recommendations are largely based on the Commission’s draft
recommendation for the Trent Bridge Ward, however, making adjustments
where necessary to reflect factors like community identity, interests and
affiliations. Nevertheless, this is an arrangement that has strong clearly
identifiable boundaries (that don’t break any local ties) that at the same time
meets the statutory requirements of:  secure,effective and convenient local government, and
 provides for equality of representation.
Our Revisions to the Commission’s Proposal for the Abbey Ward.
To be read in conjunction with our original proposals for the Abbey Ward
Our revised proposal for the Abbey Ward is largely based on the
Commission’s plan for the Abbey Ward but includes an area of housing
transferred to the Trent Bridge Ward under the Commission’s proposal for
that Ward. The proposal also excludes an area of housing formerly in the
Melton Ward and makes some minor changes to the boundary with
Edwalton Village.
Analysis and Rationale
The busy major road (the A6011), the Grantham Canal and the Edwalton
Dyke form clearly identifiable boundaries between the two wards in the
north and east and these features are retained. The boundaries to the south
and west are less clearly defined and currently weave along the shared
boundary however; there are different and distinct community identities,
affiliations and concern between the two wards. The key community focal
points in Edwalton are the village shops, church, and community hall and
play facilities, which are over a mile away from the Abbey area.
Additionally the residents of Abbey Ward do not readably share affiliations
or associations with Edwalton Village as they naturally look directly towards
to the centre of West Bridgford for their shopping, lesiure and recreational
activities. These proposed revisions try to reflect these differences.
The Boundaries of a revised Abbey Ward
The Abbey Ward as outlined in the Commission’s proposal is bordered by
Radcliffe Road, a busy major road, and the Grantham Canal in the north and
the Edwalton Dyke in the east. These features form clearly identifiable
natural boundaries and are retained. The boundaries to the south and west
are less clearly defined. The proposed revised Abbey Ward boundary runs
from its junction at Radcliffe Road and Abbey Road south along the middle
of Abbey Road to its junction with Davis Road .The boundary then turns
west along the centre of Davis Road to its junction with Gordon
Road/RectoryRoad/Central Avenue at Tudor Square.The boundary then
turns south along the centre of Gordon Road to its junction with Ethel Road
and turns west behind the properties (north) on Ethel Road.The boundary
line turns south at the junction of Ethel and Exchange Roads and continues
along the centre of Exchange Road to its junction with Manvers Road .The
line would then continue west to the rear (south) of the properties on
Manvers Road to its junction with Melton Road .The boundary then turns
south along the centre of Melton Road to its junction with Stamford Road.
The proposed boundary would turn east along the centre of Stamford Road
to its junction with Trevor Road.At Trevor Road road the boundary would
turn south along the centre of the road to its junction with Leahurst Road. At
Leahurst Road the boundary would turn east and run along the centre of
Leahurst Road to its junction with the Edwalton Dyke .At this point the
boundary would turn north following the natural boundary of the Edwalton
Dyke and Grantham Canal continuing to the starting point at the Abbey
/Radcliffe Road junction.
Effects on adjoining wards
The changes involve transferring Dovedale Road, parts of Trevor, Stamford
and Melton Road’s to the revised Musters Ward.
Additionally, it would involve very minor modifications to the Edwalton
Village Ward including transferring Leahurst Gardens and parts of Leahurst,
Trevor and Valley Roads to the Edwalton Village Ward.
Finally, the changes would include transferring a part of the Commission’s
proposed Trent Bridge Ward to the Commission’s revised Abbey Ward.
None of these proposed changes would create wards with variations of
greater than + or – 10%.
These changes would provide good levels of electoral equality are based on
strong boundaries and better reflect community identities.
Appendices
A. Map illustrating new ward boundaries (to follow)
5th November 2012