Cllr Paul Kennedy
WARRINGTON has lost its battle to overturn the controversial proposals of the Boundary Commission for the borough.
The House of Commons Second Delegated Legislation Committee yesterday debated an Early Day motion submitted by Warrington South MP David Mowat.
But after a debate that lasted more than half-an-hour, they rejected his proposal that the Commission’s proposals should be postponed.
It was very unusual for the Commission’s proposals for boundary changes to be challenged, but Mr Mowat did so in response to requests from both the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives in South Warrington.
Tory group leader Cllr Paul Kennedy, whose council seat at Hatton, Stretton and Walton will disappear under the proposals, knew Mr Mowat would face an uphill battle to persuade the committee to change the Commission’s proposals.
After watching the debate on online television, he said: ” Whilst many of us would have preferred a different outcome and that the Boundary Commission’s recommendations be postponed, rather than going ahead in May, as they now will, I personally fully accept that due process has taken place, culminating in today’s Parliamentary Committee debate.
“We are where we are, and finally a long period of uncertainty has come to an end and we can all move forward.”
The Boundary Commission’s now approved plan will mean widespread boundary changes in South Warrington.
Lymm will be split in two, with one part taking over Thelwall and part of Grappenhall.
Appleton Thorn will be “moved” out of Appleton and merged with Grappenhall.
There will be changes to the boundary between Stockton Heath and Appleton and the villages of Walton, Stretton and Hatton will disappear from the electoral map.
Representatives of all the main political parties have criticised the Commissions’s proposals and condemned them as illogical and even “stupid.”
The May elections will now be fought on the new ward boundaries.
5 Comments
Big thanks to David Mowat for doing everything he could.
It’s a great shame that they wouldn’t listen and reconsider the proposals.
I’m really gutted that you will now lose your seat Paul Kennedy as you have been a wonderful and very proactive borough councillor for us for many years and you will be missed. Thank you for everything you have done and for all the times you have personally helped me with issues around here too when I have contacted you. You have always acted promptly, kept me and others fully informed and have NEVER let us down which sadly can’t be said for some of the other elected representatives in Warrington.
Please please please consider standing for the seat that we will now fall under now we are apparently ‘Stockton Heath’…..or am I Appleton now. Blimey I have no idea 🙁
Thanks Dizzy. You will be in the new Stockton Heath Ward. If you get time you might like to see the Parliamentary debate on parliamentlive.tv if you scroll back to Tuesday 2.30 think it was feed 11 the second legislative committee about 45 minutes long.
Kind regards
Paul
Thanks and I’ll try and find it although I didn’t know there was a Parliament Live TV channel. I’ll try and find it on cable, catch-up or online if that’s where it’s available.
So much localism and what we’re told it stood for.