Bigger Windsor constituency proposal - public consultation

A proposal to expand the Windsor parliamentary constituency to include Slough Borough Council's Foxborough ward is now out for public consultation.

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is asking residents for their input into a review of the parliamentary constituency boundaries, which will make substantial changes to many boundaries across the UK in a bid to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600. It will also aim to make sure that each constituency has a similar number of registered electors.

Berkshire constituencies remain largely unchanged except for Windsor and Slough which have electorates outside the recommended average - hence the proposed move of Foxborough ward into the Windsor constituency.

Ian Trenholm, Returning Officer in the Royal Borough, said: "New legislation says that constituencies in England should have an electorate of between 72,810 and 80,473 so the proposal affecting Windsor will increase the current electorate of 69,511 to 75,962, while reducing the large size of the Slough constituency.

"The consultation gives everyone the opportunity to comment on the proposal and I encourage borough residents to put forward their views to the Boundary Commission."

Copies of the Boundary Commission proposals are available for inspection at the reception desks of the Town Hall in Maidenhead and York House in Windsor or at www.consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk

The consultation, which started on 13 September, lasts for 12 weeks and all comments must be in by 5 December 2011. They can be made by:
• writing to the Boundary Commission for England at 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ.
• emailing southeast@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk
• using the comment form on the website www.consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk
• or by registering to speak at one of the public hearings.

The nearest public hearing for Windsor is at Reading on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 October at the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, Madejski Stadium, Reading RG2 0FL. Further information about the public hearings is available on the Boundary Commission website or by calling 020 7276 1102.

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