Boundary Commission Proposals to Break Up Hayes and Harlington

You may have seen in the local and national media that the Government has launched a review of the boundaries for Parliamentary constituencies to reduce the number of seats by 50 and to ensure that the constituencies are roughly the same population sizes.
The Boundary Commission has just produced its initial proposals for our area for consultation.
The Boundary Commission is proposing to add Yiewsley to the constituency from the current Uxbridge constituency and to transfer Charville to Uxbridge and Barnhill and Yeading wards to a new Greenford and Northolt constituency. To make up the numbers the Boundary Commission has recommended moving three wards from Hounslow south of the airport into the constituency. These are Bedfont, Feltham North and Feltham West.
These proposals can be viewed on the Boundary Commission’s website http://www.independent.gov.uk/boundarycommissionforengland and a copy of the report can be obtained from the Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ tel 0207 276 1102, email information@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk
There is now to be a consultation lasting until 5th December 2011. Everybody who wishes to express their views on the Boundary Commission’s proposals for their area may submit their views in writing or via the Commission’s website. There will also be a public hearing.
I welcome the movement of Yiewsley into the constituency as this links it back up with its neighbour, West Drayton, which was moved into the constituency at the last election. This would make the Hayes and Harlington constituency the appropriate size.
However I am extremely concerned that Hayes and Harlington is to be broken up with the removal of the Hayes wards of Charville including Hayes End, and Barnhill and Yeading from our constituency. This appears to defy the logic of following natural and historic community boundaries to break north Hayes up into Uxbridge and Greenford. The movement of the Hounslow wards into the constituency appears to be an artificial device simply to make up the numbers.
I would urge local residents and local organisations that feel as strongly as I do about the break up of our community in this way to make their views known to the Boundary Commission.
I have represented our constituency in various roles for over 35 years and have worked hard to build a sense of community in our area. I fear that these proposals will contribute to undermining that sense of community and belonging. I hope that you share my views and will let the Boundary Commission know.

submitted by John on 20 Sep 2011 at 14:04