Boundary Commission Publish Proposals For Highlands
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland has taken on board some of the views of The Highland Council in publishing its proposals for the new boundaries for local government electoral divisions, which will take effect at the next local government election in 2007. However, they have not accepted some of the substantive changes sought by the Council affecting Lochaber, Lochalsh, Badenoch and Strathspey, Nairn and South Inverness, which is likely to stimulate debate when the full Council meets on Thursday 8 September to respond to the proposals.
The Commission has set a deadline for public representations of Thursday 13 October. Comments should be sent to the Commission at 3 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7QT or by email to webmail@lgbc-scotland.gov.uk. Any formal objections may be considered at a public inquiry.
The boundaries are being redrawn to accommodate the introduction of Proportional Representation and Multi-Member wards, using the Single Transferable Vote at the next local council elections. In Highland, the Commission proposes to create 22 multi-member wards, distributing the 80 elected members into 8 three-member and 14 four-member wards. The proposals now being put out for public consultation include: -
1. Muir of Ord to be part of a four-member Mid Ross Ward including Dingwall, Maryburgh and Conon Bridge;
2. Lochalsh being included within Lochaber, rather than being linked with Wester Ross as favoured by the Council;
3. Lochaber being divided across the Great Glen rather than down the Great Glen, as favoured by the Council, so that Ardnamurchan is linked with Glencoe and Fort William (4 Members) and Mallaig, Caol and Lochalsh forming a 4-member ward.
4. Badenoch and Strathspey remaining largely as one 4-member ward, although the community of Carrbridge is excluded and linked with Tomatin and Inverness South. This Inverness-Carrbridge Ward includes Culloden Battlefield, Westhill and Daviot.
5. East Loch Ness is to be linked with Aird and West Loch Ness forming a 4 member ward.
6. The initial proposals for Nairn are to be retained linking Nairn and Auldearn, but excluding Piperhill and Cawdor.
7. The initial proposals for Balloch, Culloden and Ardersier are retained largely unchanged
8. South Kessock and Merkinch are to be part of the same ward in the city of Inverness, as the Council recommended.
9. The minor changes at Thurso, Wick, Dornoch Bridge, Newmore and Marybank have all been accepted.
Plans of the proposals will be on display from today (Thursday) at Council Headquarters in Inverness as well as within Council Service Points in Wick, Dornoch, Dingwall, Portree, Inverness, Nairn, Kingussie and Fort William. There will also be available from the Boundary Commission’s Website: http://www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk/index.html