Stockport’s political map has been redrawn for the first time in nearly 20 years. The electoral rejig aims to ensure councillors represent roughly the same number of voters - known as ‘electoral equality’ - and that wards reflect community ties and identities.
A final version, drawn up by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), has now been submitted to the government and is expected to be adopted from 2023. The proposals - which will have no effect on next month's local elections - have twice been out to public consultation.
But while there have been further revisions, the final map is not hugely dissimilar to the one consulted on between November and January last year. The borough will still consist of 21 wards each represented by three councillors. Among the most contentious plans were those to merge Cheadle Hulme North and South, create a new Cheadle East and Cheadle Heath ward.
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It meant residents in Crossefield in Crossefield Road and Meadway Road - both currently in Cheadle Hulme North - would find themselves in a new Cheadle East and Cheadle Heath ward. That proposal has been tweaked in the final version, although alternatives put forward by councillors and residents were not taken up.
However, the commission recognised people in Meadway Road, Crossefield Road, Ladybridge Road, the Ladybridge estate and the Calderbrook estate had a ‘strong affinity’ to the Cheadle Hulme community and wished to remain within a Cheadle Hulme-centric ward.
Its final report adds: “We have decided to recommend a Cheadle East and Cheadle Hulme North ward, adopting the ward name suggestion submitted by the Liberal Democrats. “We found that when devising a pattern of wards for the Cheadle Hulme area, it was not possible to retain a single Cheadle Hulme ward that incorporates the whole of Cheadle Hulme if we are to achieve good electoral equality.”
The final recommendations puts the Ladybridge and Calderbrook estates - as well as residents in the part of Ladybridge Road to the north of the Micker Brook - in the new Cheadle East and Cheadle Hulme North ward.
Meanwhile, those in Meadway Road, Crossefield Road and the part of Ladybridge Road south of the Micker Brook come under Cheadle Hulme South.
There are also ‘significantly revised’ arrangements for Cheadle and Heald Green - including the formation of a new ‘Cheadle West and Gatley’ ward. The name ‘Stepping Hill’ is also set to disappear from the borough’s electoral map, due to boundary changes in the south and south east of the borough, including a new Norbury and Woodsmoor ward.
Initially named ‘Norbury’, the commission accepted a proposal to move the proposed ward’s western boundary towards Woodsmoor Lane, in order to include the Woodsmoor community.The commission believes renaming the ward will recognise the ‘distinct communities’ within it.
However, some Bramhall North residents who were to be placed under the new Norbury ward will now be staying put. The report adds: “We received strong evidence from electors in this area that they form an integral part of the Bramhall community and placing them in a Norbury ward would be harmful to their community identities and interests.”
Publishing the recommendations Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the Commission, said: “We are very grateful to people in Stockport. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals.
“We believe the new arrangements will guarantee electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.” More than 950 people and organisations made comments to help decide the new wards.
Further details can be found here: Details can be found on its website at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/north-west/greater-manchester/stockport.
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