A REVIEW of Worcestershire’s political map is now complete.
The Local Government Boundary Commission has redrawn the boundaries for the county council’s divisions.
Its recommendations will now go before Parliament for approval ahead of the county council elections in 2025.
There will be 53 divisions in total, with 49 areas represented by a single county councillor and four two-councillor divisions.
It means there will continue to be a total of 57 councillors on Worcestershire County Council.
In Worcester, the St John’s division will be extended to include most of the University of Worcester and Comer Gardens, although Hylton Road and the university arena will remain as part of the Riverside division.
There are minor changes recommended for the other city divisions.
Parts of Malvern including Albert Park Road and the community hospital will become part of the Malvern Trinity division as opposed to Malvern Link.
In Evesham, boundary changes mean Abbey Park will become part of the Evesham North West division, while South Worcestershire College will go the other way and come under the Evesham South Division.
Publishing the recommendations the chair of the commission, Professor Colin Mellors, said: “We are very grateful to people in Worcestershire.
“We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals. We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”
Changes in response to what local people said include retaining Alvechurch and Wythall as single-member divisions in Bromsgrove, retaining the existing boundary between Clent Hills and Woodvale, and amending the boundary between Evesham North West and Harvington.
Full details of the changes can be found at www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/worcestershire
The changes become law once Parliament has approved them. Staff at the council will ensure the arrangements are in place for the 2025 elections.
County council leader Simon Geraghty, speaking at a full council meeting on Thursday (July 11), said the commission had “broadly accepted the recommendations made by the council”.
“The opportunity for us to influence the changes has now ceased and they will now be put to Parliament,” he said.
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