Today is the last day for the people of Salford to give their opinions on the proposed changes to the electoral boundaries.
The boundaries, which separate the different constituencies of England, have been under review since 2020. At the end of today, The Boundary Commission for England will take the feedback it has received over the past few months and use it to construct a final proposal that will be put into place next year.
Many people in Salford have criticised the new changes, which include making Swinton and Little Hulton a part of Bolton South, as well as making a large portion of Broughton part of Bury South.
One comment from a Salford mum said: “I do not understand the reason for the changes… My children go to Walkden High School, and under the changes the school will be in Bolton.”
A large number of families live in Worsley but send their children to school in Walkden. Under the proposed changes, people are confused as to which MP they should go to if they have an issue with their children’s education.
Another Salford resident said: “Our current highly respected MP operates from Walkden which may move out of the present constituency under current plans.”
The office for Barbara Keeley, the MP for Worsley and Eccles South, would no longer be in her own constituency.
Ms Keeley has also voiced her disappointment with the proposed changes.
She said: “Walkden has very strong ties with Worsley. Historically, it was part of Worsley Township and was part of Worsley Urban District Council from 1894 to 1974 when changes to local government created the local authority of Salford.”
She also raised the historical importance of Little Hulton to Salford. After the blitz, many inner-city families who lost their homes in the blitz moved to Little Hulton and still live there today.
As well as this, she also noted that the current electorate in Worsley and Eccles South is 75,219. The requirements under these new boundary changes are for all constituencies to have between 69,000 and 77,000.
On the other side of Salford, Councillor Andrew Walters for Broughton Park fears the new boundaries will harm Salford’s Jewish community, by splitting them between Salford and Bury South. He said: “This unnatural split will disenfranchise the community, especially those in Salford.”
However, Arnold Saunders, who is also a councillor for Broughton Park, approves of the proposed changes saying: “I would not object to your proposals to place our ward in Bury South. However, I would recommend the constituency name is changed to Bury South and Kersal.”
Today is the final day for public reactions to the planned changes. Barbara Keeley urges Salford residents to give their opinions. She said: “It is important that as many people as possible add their views to this consultation because this is the third and final consultation on the new map of revised constituency proposals. After this final consultation has closed on 5 December, the Commission will analyse the responses and form its final recommendations. These will be submitted to Parliament by 1 July 2023.
“If you feel strongly about these proposed changes, the strength of feeling locally must be made clear. For example, in my constituency, Worsley and Eccles South, I do not think that cultural and historical bonds have been taken into account and I have objected to these changes at every step of the process so far and I spoke at the Public Hearings in March to keep the Worsley and Eccles South constituency as it is now.”
To comment on the proposed electoral map until midnight tonight, click here.
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