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Have your say on Ward Boundary Review - Trevor Maroney (7th Nov 2017 - 17:26:07) Dear Resident The Local Government Boundary Commission has just published its draft recommendations on changes to district ward boundaries in East Hampshire. Just Goole ‘East Hampshire/LGBCE’ to find out more. It recommends multi-councillor wards and has increased the number of these from 5 to 14 leaving only 12 single-councillor wards. Its remit is to create electoral equality. You have until 11th December to say whether or not its recommendations meet this aim. I do not believe they do. Before explaining my views I should say that I have been campaigning in elections over several years. During this time I have visited over 6,500 households and spoken to thousands of voters on the doorstep. I have listened intently to those of you who do not vote because, in your words, “It’s not worth voting, the Tories always win.” I have also spoken to some Conservatives who do not vote because they believe that national politics shouldn’t influence decisions on local issues. Whether this altruism stands up during overlapping general and local elections is, perhaps, another matter. In my experience single-councillor wards enable independent candidates and smaller parties to stand. I find that voters get to know the candidates, their policies and what they stand for. In bigger wards with many more candidates people tend to lose interest and just vote along tribal lines. It’s little wonder that more people are choosing not to vote in local elections. You can help to reverse this trend by going on the Commission’s website and registering your views on multi-councillor district wards. Take a look and tell the Commission what you think. You don’t have to redraw boundaries on their map. I have already submitted alternative single-ward proposals showing workable boundaries on the News page of East Hampshire Liberal Democrats website. If we don’t fight now for single-councillor wards then we will be stuck with existing one-sided, electoral inequalities for another 17 to 20 years. Make a difference, just drop them a line. Yours sincerely Trevor Maroney Chairman Woolmer Forest Liberal Democrats

Re: Have your say on Ward Boundary Review - Ian (7th Nov 2017 - 20:56:24) Blimey Trevor, didn't think the Liberals were still going after the last election

Re: Have your say on Ward Boundary Review - Trevor Maroney (15th Nov 2017 - 11:56:12) The District Council Leader has confirmed that: "The Council does not have a policy on multi-member wards...." Despite this admission the Boundary Commission's is still recommending that Bramshott & Liphook remains a 3-councillor ward based upon the endorsement it has received from our three district councillors. If you believe in a democracy and are against one-party rule you do need to write to Commission and demand single-councillor wards in this and all other parishes in East Hampshire. If you don't, we will be stuck with the current one-sided electoral inequalities for another 20 years. The address to write to is: The Review Officer (East Hampshire), Local Government Boundary Commission for England 14th Floor Millbank Tower Millbank London SW1P 4QP Thank you.

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