The Isle of Wight is set to have one less councillor under new, final proposals from the Boundary Commission.
Following a recent public consultation, the Commission has made a final recommendation that proposes a total of 39 councillors, each representing 1 ward.
Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said:
“We are extremely grateful to people across Isle of Wight who took part in the review. The Commission has looked at all the evidence that was put forward during the consultation.
“We believe these recommendations deliver electoral fairness for voters as well as reflecting community ties throughout Isle of Wight.”
A number of changes have been made following the feedback received during the latest consultation.
In the West Wight, the Commission has changed its original recommendations so that the shopping area around Avenue Road will be part of a Freshwater division rather than Totland, as previously proposed. The Commission also changed its proposals so that the area of Colwell will be part of the Totland division rather than Freshwater.
In Ryde, the Commission has clarified its proposal for the boundary between Ryde North East and Ryde South East divisions so that it will run along West Hill Road and Park Road.
In the South Wight, the Commission originally proposed a Ventnor and Wroxall division to cover both communities in an area that would be represented by 2 councillors. However, the Commission listened to local objections regarding its draft recommendations and has now put forward a new plan for 2 divisions, each to be represented by 1 councillor.
The final 39 wards will be:
| Number | Ward |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bembridge |
| 2 | Binstead & Fishbourne |
| 3 | Brading & St Helens |
| 4 | Brighstone, Calbourne & Shalfleet |
| 5 | Carisbrooke & Gunville |
| 6 | Central Rural |
| 7 | Chale, Niton & Shorwell |
| 8 | Cowes Medina |
| 9 | Cowes North |
| 10 | Cowes South & Northwood |
| 11 | Cowes West & Gurnard |
| 12 | East Cowes |
| 13 | Fairlee & Whippingham |
| 14 | Freshwater North & Yarmouth |
| 15 | Freshwater South |
| 16 | Haylands & Swanmore |
| 17 | Lake North |
| 18 | Lake South |
| 19 | Mountjoy & Shide |
| 20 | Nettlestone & Seaview |
| 21 | Newchurch, Havenstreet & Ashey |
| 22 | Newport West |
| 23 | Newport West |
| 24 | Osborne |
| 25 | Pan & Barton |
| 26 | Parkhurst & Hunnyhill |
| 27 | Ryde Appley & Elmfield |
| 28 | Ryde Monktonmead |
| 29 | Ryde North West |
| 30 | Ryde South East |
| 31 | Ryde West |
| 32 | Sandown North |
| 33 | Sandown South |
| 34 | Shanklin Central |
| 35 | Shanklin South |
| 36 | Totland & Colwell |
| 37 | Ventnor & St Lawrence |
| 38 | Wootton Bridge |
| 39 | Wroxall, Lowtherville & Bonchurch |
Full details of the final recommendations are available on the Commission’s Website.
The new electoral arrangements are set to come into force during the 2021 Council elections.
