Whitnash people urged to fight ‘ludicrous’ plan

The Boundary Commission is currently asking for views on its suggested new electoral map of Warwick district - and one of the proposals would see part of west Whitnash join up with Warwick Gates under the ward of Bishops Tachbrook.

Town and district councillor Tony Heath says this plan would be “crazy”. He said: “A lot of people will lose their identity of being a Whitnash resident.

“The district council is then due to carry out a review of the parish boundaries, which is meant to reflect the electoral boundaries. This means we could lose Whitnash.”

He added: “The residents we have spoken to about this are infuriated. The town is older than Leamington and has its own distinct identity.

“The whole of Warwick Gates shares its church, shops and school with Whitnash - not with Bishops Tachbrook.

“It does seem ludicrous that a village that is two miles away will treble in size and it won’t be able to cope.”

Cllr Heath fears that, if a large number of residents are moved to a different ward, the remaining townspeople will have to pay extra council tax to compensate for a loss of revenue.

Fellow Whitnash councillor Bernard Kirton added: “These proposals will destroy the Whitnash community as we know it.”

The commission says changes are needed because of disparities in the size of the wards, making some people’s votes worth more than others.

Commission chairman Max Coller has said that the review aims to deliver “electoral equality” for local voters.

To view the proposals, visit consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk

Comments on these proposals can be sent to: The Review Officer (Warwick), Local Government Boundary Commission for England, Layden House, 76-86 Turnmill Street, London EC1M 5LG. Alternatively, email [email protected]