Bracknell Forest's map will change following boundary review

That’s because the local government boundary commission for England (LGBCE) has settled on a final version of a new electoral map for the borough.

(The final recommendations put forward by the LGBCE)

After several months of debates and re-designs, the independent body published its final recommendations for how Bracknell Forest should be split up.

EXPLAINED: Why is Bracknell Forest getting a new map?

The boundary review took place in order to ensure councillors represent around 2,500 electors in each ward going forward.

How has the map changed from what Bracknell Forest currently looks like?

The new map features 15 wards, three less than the borough map has currently.

(Here's what Bracknell Forest currently looks like)

Eleven of these wards are represented by three councillors, and four are represented by two councillors.

This means Bracknell Forest will have 41 councillors from 2023, one less than it has currently.

Only two wards — Crowthorne and Bullbrook — will retain their names.

In the centre of the borough, Bracknell will be represented by seven wards: Hanworth, Great Hollands, Harmans Water and Crown Wood, Easthampstead and Wildridings, Bullbrook, Priestwood and Garth, and in the west, Binfield South and Jennett’s Park.

In the north-west of Bracknell Forest, Binfield-with-Warfield largely becomes Binfield North and Warfield West.

READ MORE: Bracknell Forest Council submits final proposal for LGBCE recommendation

Head east, and Winkfield and Cranbourne will become Winkfield and Warfield East.

Further south, most of what is now the Ascot ward becomes Swinley Forest ward.

Crowthorne stays as Crowthorne, albeit with some slight boundary changes.

Little Sandhurst and Wellington and Central Sandhurst are mostly combined to create a single Sandhurst ward.

And finally, Owlsmoor and College Town — currently two separate wards — are almost entirely amalgamated to create a single ward.

Publishing the recommendations, Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are very grateful to people in Bracknell Forest. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals.

 “We believe the new arrangements will guarantee electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”

What have Bracknell Forest councillors had to say about the final recommendations?

Conservative councillor Dale Birch, who headed up the council’s boundary review group, said: “I am aware of the final decision of the LGBCE and I am pleased to see that much of the council’s submission has been taken into account in their decision.

“The council’s working group worked hard to ensure the submission we made was balanced and based upon the key criteria used by the LGBCE when making their decision.

“I am pleased to see the amount of engagement from other local bodies and members of the community in the last phase of the process and I thank everyone for taking part and submitting their evidence and comments.

READ MORE: 'Land grab' boundary changes slammed by Bracknell councillor

“The decision will be confirmed by Parliament in the New Year so the council’s only activity with regards to the new boundaries is to prepare for the local elections in 2023 when the new boundaries will come into force.”

Liberal Democrats councillor Thomas Parker said: "I welcome the LGBCE's recommendations for the new political map for our borough. The Council's working group who helped draft our recommendations worked tirelessly to get across the views of residents and all political groups.

"The fact the LGBCE has made its own choices and has not just accepted the Council's recommendation is a good thing - it shows the system is working. Unlike in countries like the US, politicians don't draw the maps in the UK and that independent process means that the people will continue to choose their representatives, rather than the politicians choosing their voters.

"There may be some wards on this map that are surprising to residents (and perhaps rightly so), but the Commission has ensured that representation is more equal across the whole borough."

Mary Temperton, Labour councillor, added: “At a first glance, it seems to agree with the recommendations put forward by the Bracknell Forest Council.

“I am glad there are no single councillor wards and glad that Jennett’s Park will have two Bracknell Town Councillors.”

Here's the new map without place names on it

She added: “I and the Labour group supported all these proposals except the inclusion of all the green recreational space, previously part of Easthampstead, into Hanworth.

“We still oppose this, but the commission has agreed with the Council and it is Hanworth’s gain and Easthampstead’s loss.

“I am disappointed that this land move was accepted but support all the other decisions”

What’s the issue with Easthampstead and Hanworth?

As the News has previously reported, the last time Bracknell Forest Council submitted its own recommendations for the boundary review in September some councillors were left unhappy.

This is because BFC proposed placing three roads as well as North Lake and its adjacent field and play area — a popular patch of South Hill Park — to be included in Hanworth ward rather than Easthampstead & Wildridings.

Labour’s Mary Temperton was against the move, labelling it a ‘land grab’ at a council meeting as she said this would mean Easthampstead would be left without any substantial green space and a play area.

Bracknell Town Council and Easthampstead and Wildridings Community Association also objected to the move before the LGBCE published its final recommendations.

They were joined by Conservative councillors Malcolm Tullett and Peter Heydon, who currently represent Old Bracknell.

READ MORE: Old Bracknell ward councillors have their say on controversial boundary proposal

Asked for his response to the final recommendations, Councillor Tullett said: “I’m disappointed in the decision made by the Commission. My views on the matter are public knowledge.”

Councillor Tullett submitted a comment to the LGBCE before it published its final recommendations, which has been published online as part of the consultation.

In his submission, Cllr Tullett wrote: “I would argue, very strongly, that this is simply an opportunistic and blatant ‘land grab’, which has nothing to do with the Commission's review ideology and which should be dismissed, without further consideration.”

Fellow ward member and Conservative colleague Peter Heydon also submitted a comment to the Commission regarding the issue around North Lake.

It read: “The fact, and it is a fact, is that Easthampstead has one play area. Hanworth has seven.

“The proposal is to denude Easthampstead's children - why? Is there any answer as to the single reason for change is to remove the only play area in a Ward to another "richly endowed" ward - how does that reflect community interest?”

Reacting to the decision, Peter Heydon said: "The consultation is complete, the shift of roads into other wards is entirely understandable as it does even the voter, and thus representation, fairly.

"As regards North Lake, it is a community asset – as is South Hill Park – and I view it as that."

These comments came at odds with representations made by the three Hanworth borough councillors, who are also Conservative ward members, as well as Hanworth town councillor Anna Kempster.

In a joint statement, they commented: “North Lake area is already regarded as being part of the grounds of South Hill Park Arts Centre which is in the Hanworth Ward…

“The redrawing of the line will not deprive any user of the North Lake facilities, such as the South Hill Road play area to the east as there will be no restriction of access and the Easthampstead and Wildridings Ward has extensive parkland and open spaces as well as well-maintained play areas of their own provided by both the Borough and Town Councils.

“The redrawing of the line to include the North Lake area in Hanworth will mean a significant improvement in the management of issues emanating from the North Lake field by local Hanworth councillors who will be able to deal quickly and efficiently with issues without having to liaise with councillors in another ward first.”

Despite protests from Labour and some Conservative councillors, the LGBCE decided North Lake and its play area will be included in Hanworth ward.