Changes to Ashford parliamentary constituency are proposed and you have just 6 weeks to have your say by letter, email or in person at an Ashford hearing.

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is inviting comments during its secondary public consultation on constituency boundaries, which is open until 4 April 2022. It is undertaking a review of all constituencies in England, to make the number of electors in each constituency roughly the same. The number of constituencies in England will also increase to 543.

The 2023 Boundary Review requires substantial changes to the map of constituencies across England, and the BCE wants the public to help shape the boundaries by taking part in a consultation, running until 4 April. View the initially proposed constituency boundaries and provide your views at www.bcereviews.org.uk

Responses can also be sent in by letter, email or provided in person at one of 32 public hearings being organised across the country, including Ashford (see below).

The Commission received over 34,000 responses during its first consultation and these comments are available to view by area, along with the initial proposals for constituencies, on the website.

Proposed changes for Ashford

The Boundary Commission’s proposed changes for Ashford would see the existing parliamentary constituency of Ashford replaced with three new constituencies:

· Ashford – including 24 of Ashford’s 39 wards plus wards from Folkestone & Hythe

· Weald of Kent – including 12 of Ashford’s wards

· Faversham & Mid Kent – including the Ashford wards of Charing, Downs North and Downs West

The proposed new Ashford constituency would have an electorate of 73,546; Faversham and Mid Kent 76,432; and Weald of Kent 70,362.

The public hearing in Ashford takes place on 24 and 25 March at the Ashford Borough Council Civic Centre, allowing people to have their say in person about the proposed changes. To book a 10 minute slot to speak at the Ashford hearing visit www.bit.ly/bcepublichearings

Secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, Tim Bowden, said: “The 2023 Boundary Review will rebalance the number of electors represented by each MP. It’s important that the constituencies we shape reflect your local community as best as possible. We received over 34,000 responses during our first consultation last year which are available online for the public to read and comment on.

“We’re inviting more people to have their say in our current secondary consultation, which is open until 4 April. Help us to get our proposals right for your area by telling us your views via www.bcereviews.org.uk or at a public hearing in your region. We’re looking forward to hearing your feedback, and we take every response into account during our review of constituency boundaries.”

By Ed

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