Idea For North Chiswick Ward Rejected

Boundary Commission wants to expand Southfield and rename as Acton Green

Boundary Commission's proposed new wards

The Boundary Commission have opened a consultation on proposals for redrawn ward boundaries in Ealing borough.

They have rejected a suggestion from the local Conservative group that Southfield ward should be named 'North Chiswick'. They argued that the vast majority of the ward is in the W4 Chiswick postcode area and residents identify more with Chiswick than Acton.

However the Commission decided to go with Ealing Council’s proposal that the ward should be renamed 'Acton Green' saying, 'On balance, we are persuaded by the Council's argument that the name Acton Green gives a degree of continuity to the names of the wards across the Acton area. However, we would be particularly interested to receive feedback from local residents and organisations about the most appropriate ward name for this area.'

The new Acton Green ward would be the largest in population terms in the borough based on projections to 2024 with 11,560 electors. This would be 5% more than the average for wards in Ealing. It would have a slightly altered boundary which would now run along the centre of the Vale A4020 all the way to the borough boundary with Hammersmith and Fulham. Electors in Agnes Road, Cowley Road, Swainson Road, Elizabeth Gardens, Davis Road, Valetta Road and Oldfield Road would be incorporated into the ward.

The draft recommendations are for 22 three-councillor wards and two two councillor wards in Ealing an increase of one councillor from the current number of 69.

The Commission said, “We consider that our draft recommendations will provide for good electoral equality while reflecting community identities and interests where we received such evidence during consultation.”

The types of questions the Commission is asking residents at this stage are:

Do the proposed wards reflect local communities?
How do you think the proposals can be improved whilst maintaining electoral equality?
Are the names of the proposed wards right?

Residents have from 5 February until 15 April 2019 to have their say about where ward boundaries for Ealing should be drawn. The Commission will consider all submissions and aims to publish its final recommendations in July 2019. Once the Commission agrees its final recommendations it will lay a draft order in both Houses of Parliament. Parliament will then have 40 days in which to consider the recommendations. If both Houses are satisfied with the recommendations, the draft order will be ‘made’ and the new wards will come into effect at the council elections in May 2022.

If you would like to make a submission to the Commission email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk or have your say directly through the Commission’s consultation portal.

February 5, 2019